At 8:24 a.m., California Highway Patrol received reports indicating that a vehicle had gone over the side of the 330 near City Creek. The reporting party said they heard the accident but could not see the vehicle. Emergency crews arrived on scene and were finally able to access the vehicle at approximately 8:50 a.m.
Emergency Personnel on scene found a smashed vehicle with a smashed windshield and an unresponsive driver. All of the vehicles airbags had deployed. The patient was suffering from apparent major injuries. Aviation Crews were called in to assist with providing OverWatch for ground Crews as well as a second airship standing by at Charles Hoffman Elementary for Medical Transport. At some point emergency workers were able to revive the victim and he regained consciousness.
Traffic advisory was issued by Running Springs CHP approximately 8:45 indicating that both directions of travel were transitioning from full closure to one-way traffic.
Emergency crews were setting up rigging to help remove the patient from the vehicle due to size and weight. At 10:05 a.m. emergency crews were finally able to extricate the victim from the vehicle. They provided an approximate ETA of 15 minutes to The Landing Zone where they were at going to be able to Airlift him to a nearby hospital. Emergency crews also requested additional firefighters to help clear brush around the vehicle.
The cause of the accident is unclear at this time. Recovery efforts were extensive due to terrain features around the accident. California Highway Patrol requested a big rig evidence tow for the vehicle recovery. As of 9:30 a.m., Big Bear Towing was responding with the big rig and flatbed for the vehicle recovery but it was later decided that the vehicle would not be recovered. One firefighter suffered injuries from heat exhaustion during this incident.
At 11:43 a.m. California Highway Patrol announced on Twitter that all lanes were open.
At 2:35 p.m. the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department issued a press release that read as follows:
DATE/TIME: June 22, 2018, at approximately 8:00 a.m.
INCIDENT: Hoist Rescue/Medical Aid
LOCATION: Running Springs: Hwy 330/Old City Creek
VICTIM(S): 40-year-old male from Riverside
CREW: 40King4- Pilot- Lieutenant A. Daniel, Flight Officer- Corporal E. Leon
AR306- Pilot- Sergeant M. Gilley, Crew Chief- Corporal J. Scalise, Medics- R. Katzer, N. Seldon
SUMMARY:
On Friday, June 22nd, at approximately 8:00 a.m., the crew of AR306 was requested to assist San Bernardino County Fire Department in the area of Running Springs with the report of a traffic collision, where a vehicle went down the mountain-side. Sheriff’s Helicopter 40King4 assisted in locating the vehicle, which came to rest in dense foliage, approximately 300 yards below the highway.
While San Bernardino County Fire Department personnel were extricating the victim, AR306 landed at a nearby school and configured for a hoist. After a short time, AR306 was asked to return to the scene and perform the hoist. Corporal Scalise, acting as Crew Chief, lowered Air Medic Katzer approximately 70 feet to the scene, where he helped prep the victim for a hoist recovery in a “stokes” basket. Both the victim and Medic Katzer were hoisted from the scene, and the victim was flown to Loma Linda University Medical Center for treatment of his serious injuries.
The California Highway Patrol is conducting the investigation regarding the cause of the traffic collision.
Refer: Cpl. J. Scalise
Station: Emergency Operations Division- Aviation Unit
Case #: BDC# 18-126031
Phone No. (909)252-4100
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
At the same time the California Highway Patrol released this statement on Facebook:
On June 22, 2018, at approximately 0824 hours, Arrowhead Area CHP officers responded to the scene of a traffic collision on SR-330, about a third of a mile south of SR-18. Upon arriving on scene, first responders located a vehicle approximately 200 feet over the side. Through the efforts of CAL FIRE, San Bernardino County Fire, Running Springs Fire Department, Big Bear Fire Department and a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department helicopter, the driver was extricated from the vehicle and transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center for treatment. The initial investigation revealed that the vehicle was traveling southbound on SR-330 at an unknown speed, when the driver, a 43 year old male, allowed the vehicle to travel across the northbound lane, and off the roadway. Upon leaving the roadway, the vehicle traveled down a steep hillside, and overturned multiple times, before coming to rest on its wheels. While first responders were on scene, Caltrans District 8 assisted with traffic control, allowing vehicles to use the southbound lane. Both lanes of SR-330 were cleared at approximately 1130 hours.
Thank you to our allied agencies for all of your assistance.
#californiahighwaypatrol
(Cover photo courtesy of Mary Williamson)