UPDATED-Victim Safely Hoisted From San Jacinto Mountainside After Glider Crash
UPDATE: Nov. 8, 2015, 4:20 p.m.
According to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman April Newman, the victim in this accident was safely extricated during a hoist operation shortly after 4 p.m.
Twenty-three fighters from three engine companies responded to the emergency, according to Newman. They were assisted by American Medical Response medics and Riverside County sheriff’s deputies.
After being safely lifted off the side of the mountain, the victim was transported by Copter 301 to an area hospital. Newman stated the victim suffered major injuries to their lower extremities.
ORIGINAL STORY
An injured hang glider was rescued from a San Jacinto mountainside after the victim crashed Nov. 17. Emergency first responders were dispatched to the area after receiving multiple reports of a glider that had collided with the mountainside.
April Newman, Press Information Officer for the Riverside County Fire Department, stated the accident happened about 3:15 p.m., in the area of the Soboba Flight Park. The sports complex features paragliding, parasailing and more and is located at 255 Soboba Road, in the unincorporated area northeast of San Jacinto.
According to Newman, the first arriving emergency first responder advised the patient was seriously injured and was approximately 200 feet from the bottom of the hillside. The fire company officer advised the victim was in a dangerous position, in which a traditional rescue would not be possible.
Due to the victim’s precarious location, CAL FIRE Helicopter 301 has been called in to assist with a technical “hoist” rescue, Newman wrote in a press release. Updates will be posted as information becomes available.
Newman stated the rescue efforts were being aided by personnel from American Medical Response, CAL FIRE/Riverside, Riverside County Fire Department and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.
That happens often there I wonder if taxpayers have to eat all that expense each and every time ?
It doesn’t happen “often” there and when it does it’s usually always pilot error; meaning the person or pilot flying has made a decision to fly in risky weather conditions or attempting a risky maneuver by their own choice. The pilots who fly there are all highly trained and have received FAA certification for that level of competency. Occasionally something like a spontaneous wind shear can arise that is dangerous and unpredictable but people fly there often without any mishaps.
Very true. All “extreme sports” have their inherent risks that those who participate are usually well aware of.
There was just another accident at the same location last month I reported on that required a major rescue operation as well JC.
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