Overview

• On July 20, Jacob “Jake” Schmitt’s side-by-side utility vehicle rolled an estimated 15–20 times off a cliff in the Uinta Mountains, leaving him with a broken leg, fractured ankles and cracked ribs.
• After losing his phone, he improvised a splint using a roll cage fragment, duct tape and his belt, then crawled for more than 11 hours through the night guided only by his dog Buddy’s collar light.
• At daybreak he reached his truck and drove to the Oakley Diner, where employee Yenni Saiz called 911 and Oakley Fire Station volunteers looked after Buddy and Schmitt’s vehicle.
• Schmitt spent four days at Park City Hospital undergoing treatment before being discharged home to Ogden, reuniting with his loyal companion.
• A GoFundMe page for his medical expenses topped $15,000 by July 31, reflecting widespread local and online support for his recovery.