Driver wanders two days after wreck without water, food

Drew W. Steskal, 31, of Spencer, appeared in Antelope County Court last Wednesday, Sept. 2, following an Aug. 31 crash northwest of Clearwater and an extensive subsequent search for the driver.

According to documents filed by Antelope County sheriff Bob Moore, passersby had reported an abandoned vehicle about three miles northwest of Clearwater.

Moore reported finding a red Ford Escort in the west ditch of a county road, about 200 yards north of the highway, with the driver door open. Moore said evidence indicated the vehicle had entered Clifford Steskal’s hay meadow near the highway, tearing up grass in the meadow and sideswiping a hay bale before proceeding north through a fence, over the roadway into the ditch and through a fence on the Lazy Horseshoe Ranch. He said the vehicle came to rest halfway under another fence, impacting the ditch hard enough to “plow up dirt.”

The vehicle had no license plate. Moore located a title inside that showed it had been recently sold but did not indicate a buyer’s name. A deputy contacted the previous owner to learn Steskal’s identity.

Moore engaged Brian Wilcox to conduct an aerial search as well as assistance from the Clearwater Fire Department, searching on all-terrain vehicles, after it was learned Steskal had not shown up for work for two days. The pilot reported seeing where a vehicle had left the highway about one-fourth mile west of the initial accident site, tearing up an area in another field and proceeding onto the Cowboy Trail.

After hearing from an area farmer who had encountered an individual asleep on the Cowboy Trail earlier in the morning, Moore searched along the trail and located Steskal near the Antelope/Holt county line. Moore reported Steskal, who had been without water and food for nearly two days and suffered cuts, scrapes and bruises, refused medical treatment. He was transported to the law enforcement center, where he was provided food and water and booked on three allegations.

Steskal faced the Honorable Donna Taylor on the three counts Wednesday, including leaving the scene of a property damage accident, a Class 2 misdemeanor; willful reckless driving, a Class 3 misdemeanor; and criminal mischief, also a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Taylor set bond at $3,000, 10% cash, and continued arraignment to Sept. 29. Steskal was remanded to the custody of the sheriff, pending posting of bond.