Mississippi woman found alive after ATV breakdown prompts search near Sardis Lake

A north Mississippi woman was found alive and airlifted to a hospital Monday after an ATV breakdown prompted a multi-agency search in the Sardis Lake bottom.

Mariah Estes, of Abbeville, was located by Lafayette County sheriff’s deputies at 1:51 p.m. Sept. 14, nearly five hours after deputies were dispatched to a missing-person report, according to the sheriff’s office.

Authorities said Estes and another person had been riding an ATV in the southeastern portion of the lake bottom when the vehicle became disabled. The pair decided one person would walk out to seek help while the other stayed with the ATV.

The report brought together search-and-rescue teams from the sheriff’s office and Lafayette County Fire Department, along with the county’s Emergency Management Agency K9 and Incident Response Team and officers from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

After deputies located Estes, paramedics from the fire department and Baptist Ambulance Service reached her on foot and began treatment while rescuers worked to get her out of the area.

Firefighters, deputies and wildlife officers moved Estes to a clearing for transport. Hospital Wing of Oxford then flew her to Baptist North Mississippi in stable condition. No updated information about her condition was available when the sheriff’s office issued its release.

Lafayette County Sheriff Joey East praised the agencies’ coordination during the search and rescue.

“This is exactly the kind of teamwork we train for, multiple agencies coming together with a single goal,” East said.

He thanked the emergency personnel involved for their professionalism and dedication.

“Most of all, we’re thankful this situation had a positive outcome and that Ms. Estes is safe,” East said.