Stranded Alaska Man Survives 3 Days in a Toyota Tacoma on Frozen Beer

It began as all innocent little jaunts that turn tragic begin – Clifton Vial, 52, of Nome, Alaska, took his 2000 Toyota Tacoma for an evening drive in sub-zero temperatures with no provisions, no tools and a nearly empty tank of gas.

40 miles north of town, Vial accidentally hit a snowdrift that enveloped his trusty Tacoma. With nothing more than tennis shoes and a $30 Sears jacket, trying to dig himself out with the mercury plummeting to -17 Fahrenheit would have surely meant frostbite.

With no cell phone coverage, Vial waited. And he waited. And he waited some more. Even in temperatures that would render most other trucks useless, the trusty Tacoma always started, giving Vial the heat he needed to keep from freezing solid.

He would only run the engine once in a while, but after three days in the Tacoma, the tank was nearly empty. He knew better than to venture out unprepared, as he usually carries extra gasoline, food, water and survival gear at all times. But not this time.

All he had to consume for three days was an unlimited supply of snow and two frozen cans of Coors Light. Vial cut the lids off the cans and dug the slush out with a knife, providing him with just enough fuel to get him through the 60-hour ordeal.

Three days after his Tacoma crashed into the snowdrift, rescuers found Vial and the truck. Although malnutritioned and tired, Vial suffered no frostbite thanks in part to the Tacoma and its ability to start despite being buried in snow with sub-zero temperatures that would overwhelm lesser trucks.

Although New England winters aren’t nearly as extreme as Alaska, having a new or pre-owned Toyota Tacoma from Acton Toyota will help make those cold, snowy days a little bit easier to endure.