Cops: Kims Stuck On Road Opened By Vandals

Authorities Say Someone Cut The Lock, Opening Mountain Road Where Family Ended Up Stranded

(CBS/AP)  Authorities in Oregon say the road that James Kim and his family were on when they got stranded is normally blocked by a locked gate during the cold-weather months.

But they say a vandal had cut the lock, leaving the road accessible.

The family was stranded for more than week with little food after driving for 15 miles past the gate.

Kim was found dead on Wednesday, five days after setting out for help, while his wife and two children were airlifted out. He died of hypothermia near a fishing lodge stacked with food, authorities said.

Kim, 35, had no way of knowing about the Black Bar Lodge. His body was found in shallow water feeding Big Windy Creek, about a mile away from the lodge, where he could have found shelter, warmth and enough food for months, authorities said Thursday.

Authorities say the gate is locked in the winter so people don't go down the road. It is locked on Nov. 1, after the end of deer hunting season.

Searchers looking for the Kims discovered the gate was open, and officials say an investigation is under way to find out who cut the lock.

A medical examiner said Thursday he could not determine exactly when James Kim died.

"James Kim did nothing wrong," Oregon state police Lt. Gregg Hastings said. "He was trying to save his family."

Searchers found the body of the 35-year-old online editor on Wednesday, two days after rescuing Kati Kim and daughters, Penelope, 4, and Sabine, 7 months, from the car they had used as shelter for more than a week in Oregon's snowy coastal mountains.

"I wish Mr. Kim would have found the place," Black Bear Lodge owner John James said. "It would have been a beautiful ending to a sad story."

On Saturday morning, Dec. 2, James Kim decided to go for help. He thought a small town was just four miles away, but he had guessed his location wrong. The town was 15 miles away, reports CBS News correspondent John Blackstone.

The Kims had driven from San Francisco to Seattle for Thanksgiving and were on their way home. They planned to spend the night of Nov. 25 at a luxury lodge outside Gold Beach on the coast.

Driving south on Interstate 5, the Kims had missed the turnoff to the coast and instead drove through the Siskiyou National Forest.

They passed signs warning that Bear Camp Road may be blocked by snow, but kept going. At times, James had to stick his head out the window to see through the falling snow, said Hastings.

They descended into a confusing warren of logging roads.

By the time they turned around, they were 15 miles off Bear Camp Road and stopped where they hoped to be spotted from the air, fearing they were running out of gas, searchers said.

Kati Kim told investigators they stopped at 2 a.m. Nov. 26, but could get no cell phone service. They stayed in the car as it snowed and rained for three days.

They had only baby food, jelly and bottled water, Hastings said. When the bottled water ran out, they melted snow. When the food ran out, Kati Kim nursed the children.

On the eighth day, James Kim decided to look for help. His wife told investigators he thought he was just four miles down the Rogue River from the community of Galice. It was closer to 15, but he felt he could follow the river to find help.

Kim had walked five miles up a road, then five more miles down rugged Big Windy Creek. Despite his long hike, he was only a mile from the car, which was near the road to the lodge.

When Kim's body was found Wednesday, it ended a search that had become personal for many of those working on it, reports Blackstone.

That was clear when Undersheriff Brian Anderson stepped to the microphones with bad news.

"At 12:03 today, the body of James Kim was located down in the big windy creek ... uhhhh," and Anderson walked away, tearful.

On Thursday, the Kim house — with its cheery, red garage door and window sills, perched up a small hill — stood dark and empty in San Francisco's Noe Valley neighborhood.

A few blocks away, a sign outside Church Street Apothecary, one of the Kims' two boutiques, read: "We will be closed for a few days. Please respect our privacy."

Below the sign, scores of flowers, cards and candles conveyed warm wishes from neighbors.

"Your dad is a hero. Your dad is a great, kind man. He will always love you very much," said a handmade card written in a child's scrawl, signed by "Malia."

[crystalblue3]

This is truly a sad ending. I'm glad his wife and kids are okay and my hearts go out to them this holiday season.

[aeasus]

In Memoriam: James Kim

http://news.com.com/2009-12-61416
17.html?tag=cnetfd.ld1

May the Lord bless the Kim family in their time of sorrow

[pensacola8-2009]

Loud hearts and quiet voices are appropriate at this time. We all feel pain in our hearts for this family. Let it be.

[aeasus]

Hopefully this will be an incentive for Oregon to maintain a mountain pass to the coast,or at least put up a sign "road closed for winter".
The Kim's,not being from that area,had no way of knowing the road status.

[apdepetris]

Hey, the guy waited in car for 7 days before he tried to go out and find help. He probably figured that if no one found them in a week that he needed to take action. I agree that in that kind of situation it makes sense to stay in the car. But after a week or more goes by I would think that a person would start wondering if anyone was looking for them or, if they are looking, are they looking in the right place. I think the average person would decide that they would need to seek help at that point.

[catwoman1964]

There is no sense in declaring heros in this situation. This family acted like a family and did what they had to do to try to save their family! Nothing selfish and nothing ignorant should be placed in this tragic ending. This man loved his family enough to place himself in danger to save them. I just wish a miracle could have been the ending! God be with them and help them through this. It's all about love and devotion!

[cjenkins111]

Mr Kim was a hero. He did the right thing by staying with his family for days. When there seemed to be no hope, he set out to find help in hopes his family would not perish. There is no more a hero than one that puts his life on the line for his family. Mrs Kim was also a hero in the way she kept her children alive. It's a tragic story.

[bobgee_1999]

A "hero" used to be someone who accomplished something extraordinary, selfless and/or righteous in the service of others. Now it is anyone who serves in the military, has a disease or dies in a snowstorm after getting stranded.

[crazyivan32]

bobgee said -
"A "hero" used to be someone who accomplished something extraordinary, selfless and/or righteous in the service of others."


Isn't that what this man did? Hiking out of the mountains in a snowstorm in search of help for his stranded family certainly qulifies him for the "exclusive" company of heroes you seem to want to keep him from. Does ultimately failing make his sacrifice or heroism any less? Lighten up, bud, and pray God you never find yourself in a situation like that.

[thursday24]

To Bobgee,
I am surprised that you have the gall to make the comment you did. Who defines heros? Everyone has their own opinions as to what a hero is. I bet his wife and young children think he is a hero. Have a heart and get a life.

[interested4]

Bobgee

You contradict yourself. This man WAS a hero, he selflessly went in search of help for his family, and paid with his life, what better definition of "hero" is there?

[thursday24]

and also to bobgee,

How dare you disrespect the dead.

[idunkwn41]

he7ro /%u02C8h%u026A%u0259ro%u028A/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[heer-oh] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
%u2013noun, plural -roes; for 5 also -ros. 1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal:


There Bobgee the true defintion of a hero would you like the one for an idiot or do you just need to look in the mirror

[gwagener]

They should have devices on the search helocopeters that can "ping" the cell phone and determine the direction. That would make it a lot easier to find people in situations like this.

[aeasus]

There should be road signs marking closed or dead end roads!! If there was sufficient signage they wouldn't have been lost. This is a tragic ending story due to (Oregon DOT?) lack of prevention!

[comehomesafe]

There isn't anyone to blame here.
Sometimes you can't save people from themselves. Accidents happen every day.

I grew up in that neck of the woods. I'm a loggers daughter.

Sad situation. No blame ... just sad.

[lioness41]

If only he had stayed with his family!

I have lived in Oregon for 23 years, and I know what happens to people, however heroic they are trying to be, who go out in the snow in November or December in a sweater and sneakers.

As soon as he did that he was getting chilled, and not long after that hypothermia must have started setting in. The exercise would help stave it off but shedding clothes to use as markers would make it worse!

Mother Nature eats people who go out in the snow unprepared around here. It's only sheer luck they found him before spring.

Did you know that only global warming has led us to the bodies of two climbers who died on Mount Hood thirty years ago? It's only last winter that enough ice had melted for them to be found, preserved as if they died yesterday.

[aeasus]

to comehomesafe,

I completely disagree with your last post.
If it's a public roadway it should definetly be clearly marked with ALL applicable signage. It shouldn't cost a life to close a gate or post a sign!!!

[mrthornman]

For all those folks attacking bobgee:

This man put his family in a situation that almost got them killed. He was totally unprepared and untrained to deal with it. He died as a result.


This is a tragic situation. But the word hero should not be used.

[ketemkin]

If I were the head of the time charged to find these people I would have dropped supplies, phone, food, gear, and a siren that stays on until the person lost follows the sound and finds it.

I can't imagine man just sit and watch his family die without doing something. That is just what this man did but he could have benefited from a few discovery channel survivor shows.

[idunkwn41]

Mrthornman, It would appear that you and bobgee are not reading the same things we are this family took a wrong turn.
and as I understand it this happens to alot of people in that area.
The reason this man is being called a hero is that this day in age it is hard to find anyone who is selfless enough to do this kind of thing even for his family

[sueneely]

Violation of the most important rule when lost
has resulted in a death. Stay together and stay in one place even if you're lost in a mall.

[mrthornman]

idunkwn41:

I understand what you are saying. He did the best he could in the situation. But it was a situation that was created by his own mistakes. Those are the facts.

I have great sympathy for his family. But the word hero still does not fit.

[idunkwn41]

I think the word is thrown around to alot of people who don't deserve it in that case....
I for one hope all their lives his little girls believe him to be their hero after all he gave up his life to do everything he could to help fix a terrible situation of his own making or not they deserve to believe their Daddy is their Hero even is the more callus people in the world refuse to feel that way

[alves8444]

So Sad. Our sympathy goes to his brave wife and daughters. I only hope that people have learned that nature is not a disney ride. Being prepared is not just a watchword. It could mean the difference between life and death. Hopefully this man has not died in vain.

[monireed]

perhaps only if you have lost a beloved father in an untimely or tragic circumstance could you actually understand the true heartbreak and sorrow that will remain. James Kim joins other selfless heroes, who laid down their own lives for another. my deepest sympathies. believe me i do know...i'm daddy's girl.

[mhanif76-2009]

Walking 10 miles in the heavy snow in search of help is no joke. That's equal to 200 NYC blocks...and the man died just short of 1 mile return trip to his car. Indeed very sad, but it's a sharp reminder that as humans we never know what would be our wrong turn in life. Nevertheless, be prepared to go from this world one day.

[denver101010]

I do believe the word, "Superhuman" is appropriate. The only national media company that refused to fall in line with the A.P. report is Fox News. Every other media organization, including CBS, is using the word "Superhuman" like the guy should get a Nobel Prize. What I see is a techno-geek with a high technology review program going out in a high tech S.U.V. and relying to much on his gps, cellphone, and blackberry. Get ready people, you are seeing the future! From the Hummer ads that show people driving underwater, to the the Jeep ads where people drive up Mount Everest. He put his family%u2019s lives in the hand of the wrong technology. He failed to have wilderness technology.
If you really, really want to do this kind of thing, do like my family does. Go out and buy a MINI-B or Class II EPIRB. I have one right here in my hand. Press two buttons, and you are a spot on a satellite system at NORAD. I drive between Denver and Montrose, Co. all the time.. I have a supply of Campmor freeze dried meals, bottled water, and blankets. I also have a wideband Ham transceiver and portable inverted V antenna. This is low technology but I can talk to people in Texas if I get into trouble.
A superhuman would be prepared. He had no well thought survival plan. Defend him as much as you wish, but will that help the next hapless guy who gets into the same situation? No. He needs to be scrutinized as to prevent other people from loosing their lives. Do Not Let This Happen To You!

[tempuser1]

To those who criticize James, I'd like to point out that

1. What they did was driving home from one major city to another in the winter and missed a turn... sure, maybe not the perfectly perfect thing to do, but I definetly wouldn't call it a situation he created on his own. Who hasn't pushed the envelope just a little - never drove just a few miles above speed limit?

2. Then some say that he should or should not have done this and that to stay alive. Sure, there are experts' theoretical advices... but I have got trainings in many things and let me say that in a real situation, things are rarely the same or as easy as it is in theory. It's easy to say stay and wait for help... but put yourself in the situation and imagine you've been starving and cold for 7 days and no one came, and your family is dying, you might start to believe that looking for help might be the only chance you had. Yes, it turned out it wasn't the case this time, but it could have been. So please don't be so naive and simply quote the books, but appreciate how remarkably smart and strong he was when dealing with this real and extremely devastating situation.

After all, what we all should see is a loving father who did the best he knew how for his family, his loved ones. James you ARE a hero for that, and you inspired us all. May you rest in peace.

[gmond]

James Kim died a hero.

[tempuser1]

By the way denver1010, they were NOT on an advanture survival trip - as I said they were simply going from one *major city* to another. Yes, they could have prepared better but I don't feel what they did was a major mistake either.

And you are missing the point. The praise came from the fact that he did everything he could and sacrificed everything for his family, and that's where the "hero" part comes from.

Finally, again, please stop lecturing after the fact... we could all be geniuses after we know how things played out. He ran into an unexpected realy situation that he's not trained for and did not ask for (refer to my 1st paragraph). Given that, he did remarkably well.

At last, to those who still feel he somehow created the situation himself or didn't do the perfect things, I challenge you to go train in boxing as well as you can, then go have a real boxing match and tell me you did everything perfectly.

[nothappyatall]

"An autopsy released Thursday showed that he died alone of hypothermia. His body was found in a creek's shallow water, "

They did an AUTOPSY to find out the OBVIOUS???
are we just obsessed with keeping records of everything morbid and death as a society or what.

[nothappyatall]

"hero" does not fit is right, he was trying to save himself as much as his family, that's not hero that's survival instincts.

HERO is the underpaid overworked young fireman sitting in the nice warm firehouse watching TV late during a major snowstorm when the bells go off, and in a few minutes he is climbing up the stairs with 100+ pounds of gear in an apartment house on fire with flames coming out the windows and people he can't see screaming for help.

Hero is this fireman who goes INTO the burning apartment on the top floor of a rickey burning tenement in the slum to look for people while the room is so full of smoke he can't see but has to FEEL for unconscious victims, and the celing is on fire- ready to collapse, that's MY definition of a hero- the guy who DOESN'T have to be in extreme danger but willing goes without a moment's thought into burning buildings, that's a hero.

[bigreddog222]

newster 1
I see what you are saying. Please try to look at it from the perspective of the family. Maybe that is what the article is saying.

just a thought.

[kailumego1]

This is a very sad story, but what's even sadder the insensitivity and inhumanity of some who degrade this man%u2019s good faith attempt to save his family, which if placed in an identical situation would have done the same.

All this man tried to do is save his family, and because some viewed him as a %u201Chero%u201D, the impassionate ones try to defame his effort through making erroneous comparisons between him and professional %u201Cfirefighters%u201D lifesavers.

Certainly %u201Cfirefighters%u201D are heroes, along with %u201Cgood%u201D police officers, teachers, clergy, etc., but to make an erroneous comparison between a man trying to save the lives of his family and a firefighter, whose job is to save lives, is really going on the brink of absurdity.

I%u2019m quite sure if given the choice he would have rather been home in a warm bed, instead of the blistering cold, why are you people so cynical and apathetic.

Now this mother has to raise her children without the love of their father, and knowing that should bring tears to any rationally humane human being.

[aeasus]

His body was found in shallow water feeding Big Windy Creek, about a mile away from the lodge, where he could have found shelter,
............

sheeesh.... Another place there should have been a road sign!

[ediemeyers]

What I don't understand is why James Kim just did not walk back from the side road back to the main highway?

It seems that it would have been easier and safer than getting lost in the woods. The approach seemed convoluted.

I would have stayed on the road and backtracked from there.

[aeasus]

I see a surge in boy scout recruits coming soon.

[ecuadoriana]

Let's not forget that Mrs. Kim is also a hero. She stayed behind with the HUGE responsibility of caring for their 2 young children: keeping them warm & fed, resorting to relying solely on breatfeeding them after the food ran out. Breastfeeding them, with no food for herself, was surely depleting her own strength. She had the responsibility of keeping herself alive & SANE for the sake of her children, to keep her own fears in check in order to keep the children calm. She had the responsibility of keeping them alive all the while knowing that she could possibly face the worst- watching them die in her arms.

Anyone who risks his/her life to save their family is a hero.

Everyone of us has made a wrong turn on a highway, missed an exit, let the gas tank get dangerously close to "E", thought "this way looks like a short cut" only to find himself driving in circles...&, as we can see from this tragidy, relying on technology isn't the safety net we're led to believe. The bottom line is the bottom dollar- the job is to sell technology, not for the consumer's good, but to get his money!

Tell people your itinerary, pack emergency supplies of food, water, flares, etc. when going on long trips. Use common sense.

[nothappyatall]

kailumego1; sorry you disagree, that is your opinion I have mine. No one is denegrating the man's actions but I am noticing a trend in the media and comments towards a false romanticized version of how Kim was ONLY trying to save his FAMILY when HE was out there in the cold too- not viewing this whole thing from a remote monitor in a cozy warm room or something, HE wanted to get out of there as much as anyone else would.
There's now EIGHT video clips and more on this site about this incident- again it goes right back to the corporate cashing in by the new media on a hot story tugging it for all it's worth.

As far as firefighters go, yes, that is their job, but one they WILLINGLY take, and whether someone is a professional firefighter as a job or someone stranded in the cold- pain is still pain, and death is still death whether you are paid to be there or are there as a victim of circumstance, accident or malicious intent (as in the case of arson)
The term "Hero" is not confined to just one class of person or their employment.

Trying to get YOURSELF out of such a situation even if others are involved is different than stopping your car on the freeway and risking your life extricating the driver of a burning gasoline tanker that crashed, when you could simply have rubbernecked in safety and watched the guy burn, that's a hero (non paid by the way)

[nothappyatall]

Mr Kim was a victim of circumstance, he did what he could to extricate himself out of it but failed to. I am familiar with these BLM roads in Oregon (logging roads) the mystery is why the state doesn't either post signs "ROAD CLOSED" or temporarily barricade them in some way,with yellow rubber flex cones, but for fire reasons they cant be permanently barricaded and would probably be vandalised.

[aeasus]

I read the logging road his car was found on was gated. Sadly it was left open and not properly marked.

[thgdriver]

newster1

Thank you for your definition/discription of the word "HERO".

How about fiermen/police/man on street that saves strangers lives are super heros and James Kim is only a HERO, would that make you happy and shut up??

Can we move on?

[telescopium]

I would have to say I see him as a hero too. Yes her was trying to save himself too, but he went for help for his family. His wife and two babies. He died trying to save his family. It my eyes that does make him a hero.

[aeasus]

Kim %u2014 took two lighters with him when he left the car, Anderson said. "Maybe he got a fire going,"

When the father struck out for help, he left wearing only tennis shoes, pants, a sweater and a jacket. His family said he had outdoor experience, and Oregon State Police Lt. Doug Ladd said there is "a very reasonable chance" that he is still alive.

Kim had walked five miles up a road, then five more miles down rugged Big Windy Creek. Despite his long hike, he was only a mile from the car, which was near the road to the lodge.


got lost in the snowy wilderness died of hypothermia near a fishing lodge stacked with food, authorities said.


This is so sad noone thought to send a light into the night sky from the lodge.

[swwils]

This story ends in such a tragedy.That man is a hero.He tried to save his family and paid the ultimate price.I feel sorry for the family of this man,such a terrible loss.

[idunkwn41]

Being from a mountainous region myself there are not alot of road signs and or places to put them.

[aeasus]

No doubt he had a heros heart and put forth a heros effort, "he's just a heroic father."


If you open this page... http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/06/national/main2234053.shtml?CMP=ILC-SearchStories Then click on the third picture. On that larger sign in that picture is a smaller sign mounted to the leg which reads "coast" with an arrow indicating direction. Yet apparently at other intersections and forks (that could be confusing) there is a failure of adaquete signage and/or device usage, along a posted costal access route.

I hope authorities will reevaluate, from this families terrible suffering and loss, what is required to prevent unfamilar travelers from suffering the same fate.

[bz1001]

As a former Pacific Mountain rescue member I have been watching events from England with great concern.

I was gutted to learn of the outcome and my heart goes out to Kim's family, friends and the searchers, who I know put their hearts into their effort.

What makes this story so wrenching is that the family followed the best possible advice once they were stranded. The stayed put, lit a fire, took care of themselves and waited for help- a long time.

Time and time again it those who look after themselves despite frightening circumstances, who live (often for weeks). Those who try to escape at all costs often die within a day.

One cannot fault Kim for eventually setting out when he did. I only wish he had managed to take care of himself enroute, something very tough to do in wet terrain.

Perhaps the term "hero" doesn't quite cut it here. "Resuers" have the benefit of preparedeness. Few of us know what it is like to have our family face such jeapardy or to be so cold, desperate and alone and not have the luxury of the "right" choice.

Kim saved his family by taking care of them and resisting all instincts to run for help until the situation appeared dire. He was a courageus and wise man.

[mrthornman]

I would describe a hero as a person that risks his/her life for others, in a voluntary and selfless fashion.

Example: A firefighter running into a burning building is a hero. That is because the firefighter has made a choice to put his life at risk, when he could have instead gone to the bar for a beer.

Maybe we are more desperate for heroes these days. Or just maybe the media is trying to inflate the story a little. I can tell you from personal observation that 20 years ago, this story would have been reported as a simple tragedy.