A man who was reported missing after leaving his San Ramon home for Palm Desert on New Year’s Eve has been found, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Gerald Fitzsimmons, 71, left his home in San Ramon around 8 a.m. Wednesday to visit his brother in Palm Desert and at about 8:30 p.m., after reaching the Coachella Valley, he called his brother for specific driving directions, sheriff’s officials said.
His brother noticed Fitzsimmons was having a difficult time navigating and identifying his location but mentioned being in the area of Monterey Avenue and Varner Road in Palm Desert just moments before his cellphone apparently lost power and disconnected, sheriff’s officials said.
Fitzsimmons drove back to San Ramon where he arrived around 10 a.m. New Year’s Day, according to sheriff’s officials.
He said he decided to drive back home because he was unfamiliar with the area and had lost cellular service, sheriff’s officials said.
Fitzsimmons was found in good health, according to sheriff’s officials.