The U.S. Forest Service, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Kern County Fire Department, American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance and Mercy Air coordinated an impressive logistics feat in the middle of Cuddy Valley Road to assist a dirt biker injured in Salt Creek Canyon on September 12.
By Patric Hedlund
A dirt bike ride to Salt Creek Canyon in the Tecuya Mountain area by Donny Chavez of Frazier Park and David Mitchell of Lebec and Fresno turned out a bit more sensational—and a bit more public—than the two men could have anticipated Sunday, Sept. 12.
They were about three miles from the trail head, said Chavez, 25, “And we were riding at a good speed when David slipped.”
Mitchell, 47 tumbled in a rocky area and hurt his shoulder at about 12:30 p.m. He was wearing ample protective gear, including a helmet, knee guards and a kidney guard. “He was conscious, but had trouble breathing,” Chavez said. His friend was unable to ride out himself. So Chavez rode to his home in Frazier Park to call 911 and then went to Station 57 for help. Firefighters Captain Mark Phillips and Engineer Nick LaCount returned with him in their patrol truck.
Because of the terrain, it was impossible for them to approach closer than a half mile to Mitchell’s location. Then, when Mitchell was laid flat, his breathing became worse, which indicated there might be a back injury. Phillips decided Mitchell should be taken out on a helicopter hoist. That’s when a full network of public responders jumped into the effort.
Kern County Sheriff’s helicopter 5 flew to lift Mitchell out of Salt Creek Canyon.
At 2:48 p.m. Matt Prossard of the U.S. Forest Service, with Patrols 71 and 75, coordinated a roadblock of both eastbound and westbound lanes of Cuddy Valley Road, on both sides of the Tecuya Mountain trailhead. Traffic was held back for about 30 minutes, while Mercy Air and the KCSO craft both landed in the road. American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance paramedics from Gorman (called because Hall Ambulance was occupied) transferred Mitchell to Mercy Air’s helicopter. He was flown to Kern Medical Center. There it was discovered that a rib injury was causing the breathing problem.
Mitchell was released on Monday, feeling sore, “and talking a little slower,” but recovering well, his friends report.
This is part of the September 17, 2010 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.
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