CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- An 80-year-old man from Cabell County who got lost for two days after a trip to the grocery store was found Wednesday by searchers in a remote area of Mingo County.

Howard Lee Triplett and his 74-year-old wife, Nada Triplett, of Salt Rock, bought groceries on Monday night, said Sgt. J.C. Dotson, the Williamson detachment commander for the West Virginia State Police. On their way home, the couple became lost, and ended up driving up a dirt road on Marrowbone Creek, he said.

Their truck got stuck, and the couple spent Monday night in the vehicle, he said.

On Tuesday morning, they set out on foot, but Nada Triplett tired after about half a mile, Dotson said.

"He said, 'Sit there on that log, and I'll go get help,'" the trooper said.

Hours later, a rider on an all-terrain vehicle came across Nada Triplett, and she was taken to Williamson Memorial Hospital, where she spent the night.

It wasn't until Wednesday morning that authorities realized that Howard Triplett was still missing.

Mingo County Emergency Services Director Jarrod Fletcher contacted the State Police around 9:30 a.m., according to the incident report.

A State Police helicopter was dispatched to search the area, and found the truck, Dotson said. The groceries were still in the back, he said.

Working in conjunction with the Kermit Volunteer Fire Department, officials set up a command post.

Searchers used a bloodhound to track the missing man, Dotson said. They followed the trail for about six miles before the scent went cold, he said.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- An 80-year-old man from Cabell County who got lost for two days after a trip to the grocery store was found Wednesday by searchers in a remote area of Mingo County.

Howard Lee Triplett and his 74-year-old wife, Nada Triplett, of Salt Rock, bought groceries on Monday night, said Sgt. J.C. Dotson, the Williamson detachment commander for the West Virginia State Police. On their way home, the couple became lost, and ended up driving up a dirt road on Marrowbone Creek, he said.

Their truck got stuck, and the couple spent Monday night in the vehicle, he said.

On Tuesday morning, they set out on foot, but Nada Triplett tired after about half a mile, Dotson said.

"He said, 'Sit there on that log, and I'll go get help,'" the trooper said.

Hours later, a rider on an all-terrain vehicle came across Nada Triplett, and she was taken to Williamson Memorial Hospital, where she spent the night.

It wasn't until Wednesday morning that authorities realized that Howard Triplett was still missing.

Mingo County Emergency Services Director Jarrod Fletcher contacted the State Police around 9:30 a.m., according to the incident report.

A State Police helicopter was dispatched to search the area, and found the truck, Dotson said. The groceries were still in the back, he said.

Working in conjunction with the Kermit Volunteer Fire Department, officials set up a command post.

Searchers used a bloodhound to track the missing man, Dotson said. They followed the trail for about six miles before the scent went cold, he said.

At that point, they began a grid search of the area.

Around 6 p.m., Cpl. S.T. Harper, Trooper C.D. Kuhn and Cpl. T. Berry found Triplett, Dotson said. He was dehydrated and disoriented, but otherwise fine.

Triplett was taken to Williamson Memorial Hospital, Dotson said, but a nursing supervisor said he wasn't there on Wednesday night.

In addition to members of the State Police and Kermit Volunteer Fire Department, many local residents helped look for Triplett, Dotson said.

"I want to commend everybody who assisted," he said, including "the people who lived in the area who came out on four-wheelers to help."

A Mingo County sheriff's deputy also helped coordinate the search effort, which included roughly 30 people, he said.

"Everybody did an awesome job," he said.

Both Howard and Nada Triplett had medical conditions that may have contributed to the situation, he said.

Dotson estimated that Howard Triplett walked for more than 10 miles.

The incident could have had a much worse ending, he said, adding that the couple was very lucky to have been found so quickly.

Reach Andrew Clevenger at acleven...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1723.