Shortly after noon Saturday (Jan.21), a seriously injured man flagged down a passing car alongside Angeles Crest Highway, and said two other people were hurt after falling into a deep ravine.
Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station, Sheriff's Montrose Search and Rescue team members and Air-5 (helicopter) Rescue with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department were called to the scene at Mile Marker 41.00 of the Angeles Crest Highway in the Angeles National Forest.
Sheriff's Montrose Search and Rescue Team members, including volunteer rescuers, began hiking to the scene. Meanwhile, an LASD Air-5 Rescue crew including pilots, crew chief and deputy paramedics with the LASD Emergency Services Detail of the Special Enforcement Bureau, flew to the scene.
An ESD deputy paramedic was lowered with a litter from the rescue helicopter to the site about 500' over the side of the highway into the ravine.
Meanwhile, ground rescuers worked with Sheriff's Air-5 (helicopter) pilots and paramedics and loaded the two injured men one at a time into a litter, then hoisted them into the aircraft. Each of the men was suffering from major trauma. One man was rescued from about 500 feet in the ravine and was unable to move due to his injuries, while the other man, although badly hurt, had managed to crawl up to the highway to seek help.
Working with Montrose Search and Rescue team members, the body of a deceased man was recovered.
All three victims, aged 18-20 years-old, are residents of Pasadena. The apparent hiking accident is being investigated by Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station deputies.
VIDEO of the air rescue has been made available to the news media.
You can watch it on LASD YouTube by clicking on the link here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIYVIFpJE64
Always be prepared when you go backcountry hiking and don’t overestimate your abilities. Dress for the weather and bring food, water and supplies. Always tell people where you are going and don’t count on your cell phone to work in nature.
The Air-5 Rescue helicopter crew and the eight Search and Rescue teams of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department average about 350 search and rescue missions every year, making it one of the most active counties for search and rescue missions in the nation.
Enjoy Nature - Plan your Hike by filling out the Sheriff's Department's Hiking Plan Sheet:
Hiking/Camping is a fun way to get family and friends together to enjoy the outdoors, and to get some physical activity. However, you should always be prepared for the unexpected. You should tell family and friends what your plans are and provide a list of who will be going with you. That’s why the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department would like to remind the residents of Los Angeles County that having a hiking / camping plan is crucial to survival in case of an emergency.
Before you leave, please fill out Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue – Hiking Plan sheet and provide to a loved one to hold onto just in case something happens to a member of your hiking/camping expedition. You can download the form by visiting:
http://file.lacounty.gov/lasd/cms1_163961.pdf
If you would like more information on how to prepare for your hiking / camping trip, please visit the Center for Disease Control’s camping website at
http://www.cdc.gov/family/camping/
Deputy Guillermina Saldaña
Lieutenant Kim Unland
Captain Mike Parker
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
(323) 267-4800
http://www.lasd.org
[email protected]
Text & Email updates : www.Nixle.com http://nixle.com/lasd----hq-newsroom-shb-los-angeles-county-sheriff/
Twitter @LASD_News http://twitter.com/#!/LASD_News
http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment
Sheriff Leroy D. Baca
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
To receive more detailed, up-to-date information directly from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) via e-mail, go to www.Nixle.com and register for "Nixle" alerts from "LASD – Headquarters Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff" and your local LASD station area. Or, text your zip code to 888777 to receive text alerts only. Standard text messaging rates may apply depending on your calling plan
