Full Notification

DATE/TIME: October 14th, 2014/0912

INCIDENT: Search and Rescue

LOCATION: Fossil Bed Rd, north of Irwin Rd., Hinkley, CA

SUSPECT(S): N/A

VICTIM(S): Tom Madlem, 63 YOA, Temecula, CA



SUMMARY: On Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at approximately 9:12 a.m., deputies from the Barstow Sheriff's Station and Sheriff's Aviation responded to a request for assistance in the area of Fossil Bed Road, north of Irwin Road in Hinkley. The victim, Tom Madlem, was on a solo motorcycle camping trip in the Hinkley, riding his motorcycle approximately 1 hour northwest of Owl Camp Ground when he crashed and sustained serious, but non life threatening injuries. The victim activated his emergency function of his SPOT Satellite device. The California Office of Emergency Services was alterted to the victim's GPS coordinates and in turn contacted Sheriff's Volunteer Forces.

Sheriff’s helicopter 40King4, with a crew of Corporal Mike Gilley and Sergeant Daniel Futscher, responded from Rialto to begin searching for the victim, as deputies from Barstow Station began a ground search attempting to locate the victim.

At approximately 10:16 am , 40King4 located the victim at the exact GPS coordinates they received. Based on the extent of his injuries and his remote location, the crew decided to conduct an offsite landing in Hinkley to pick up a paramedic from Barstow City Fire and fly him to the victim.

After picking up Paramedic Robert Cline, the crew conducted an offsite landing in the desert near the victim and Cline stabilized the victim. After the he was stabilized, Gilley, Futscher and Cline carried the victim to the aircraft. The crew then flew the victim back to Hinkley, where a waiting ambulance transported him to Barstow Community Hospital for treatment.

Refer: Sergeant Daniel Futscher

Station: Emergency Operations Division / Aviation Unit

Phone No. (909)356-3800

Case No. BAR1401418

JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department