SAR Team Operation: Aid to an injured trail maintenance crew member

To:       All Media Partners

From:  Jennifer M. Hansen, Public Information Officer

Date:   May 23, 2014

RE:      Search and Rescue Team Operation: Aid to an injured trail maintenance worker in the Davis Lakes area

On the afternoon of Thursday, May 22, 2014, at approximately 12:55 pm, Mono County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a call regarding an injured trail maintenance crew member in the Davis Lakes area.

A male trail maintenance crew member, age 20, was conducting trail maintenance with fellow crew members, in the Davis Lakes area, when he hurt his knee. Upon attempting to walk, he was unable to put weight on his knee and was unable to hike back to their camp. His fellow crew members contacted the Mono County Sheriff’s Office for assistance.

The Mono County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) Team was dispatched to aid the crew member. Due to the area of the trail where the crews were working, approximately five (5) miles south of the Crowley Lake community, the SAR team requested assistance of the California Highway Patrol H40 helicopter out of Fresno. The H40 was available and was able to land in a meadow approximately 1/3 of a mile away from the crew member’s camp. With the assistance of other crew members, they were able to carry to injured male to the helicopter landing zone. He was then flown to the Mammoth-Yosemite Airport where he was met by Mono County Paramedics and transported via ambulance to Mammoth Hospital for treatment.