By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY
Senior Writer
A middle-aged woman, whose name was not released by authorities, was airlifted out of a steep canyon directly below the Crestline Soaring Society’s hang glider launch site near Cedarpines Park on Monday, March 10.
County Fire Department PIO Shawn Millerick told the Alpine Mountaineer on Wednesday, March 12 that the woman crash landed and used her cell phone to call for help. After explaining where she could be located a half mile down a steep, rugged slope below the launch site, crews arrived at a vantage point and quickly located the glider by its bright colors against the bright green brush.
“Due to the hazardous topography,” said Millerick, “a decision was made to use the hoisting operations on the rescue helicopter. A paramedic was lowered down to assess, treat and package the patient. In the mountain communities we serve, we enjoy a close working relationship with our safety partners and the sheriff’s department. This allows us to quickly establish a unified plan and coordinate its delivery.”
Noting that the patient, who had suffered a leg laceration, was hoisted in her seat up to the sheriff’s helicopter, Millerick said she was able to walk out of the copter on her own.
“This patient,” Millerick said, “was located, treated, packaged, extracted and placed in an ambulance in less than one hour and transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center with minor injuries.”
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