LA GRANDE — A search for missing motorists had a happy ending after it was discovered that they had been stuck in the snow.

The La Grande Police Department began searching for Gracie Dickenson, of Elgin, and Katherine Dickenson, of La Grande, after they went out for a drive on Wednesday, April 12, and did not return, according to La Grande Police Lt. Jason Hays. The women also had a 3-year-old with them.

“We were all very happy they were located and were all OK,” Hays said.

A family member called police just after midnight on April 13 to report the pair of 20-year-old females were missing, according to Hays. Law enforcement immediately pinged both of their cellphones and found that the last ping from their phones came in shortly after 6 p.m. April 12.

“We were also able to determine both phones lost service at the same time and the last ping from their phones was from a cell tower in Union,” Hays said.

Given this information, police believed the missing motorists were most likely stranded without cell service in or near Union, possibly in the Catherine Creek area.

“We immediately gathered all the pertinent information we could from the family member and immediately put out an attempt to locate to all law enforcement agencies in the surrounding area,” Hays said.

Union County Search and Rescue was also activated.

The stranded motorists had gotten stuck in the snow in the Catherine Creek area, Hays said. They walked until they got cell service and shortly after 7 a.m. on April 13 they called their mom, who immediately updated law enforcement that they had been in contact. A family member picked them up, Hays said, and law enforcement determined there was no foul play or criminal conduct.

“Everyone is OK and no medical support was needed,” Hays said.