The crew of 40King3 and a Dive Team member rescue an 84 year old man trapped in his vehicle in flood waters 
DATE/TIME: Saturday, February 2, 2019 , 6:20 p.m.
INCIDENT: Swift Water Rescue
LOCATION: Yucca Mesa Rd. / Barron Dr., Yucca Valley
VICTIMS: Thomas Mallon, 84 years old from Yucca Valley
SUMMARY:
On Saturday, February 2nd, at approximately 6:20 p.m., Sheriff's Dispatch received a report of a male trapped in a vehicle after being swept away by flood waters in the Yucca Valley area. Deputies from the Morongo Station and member of the San Bernardino County Fire Department arrived on scene and located Mallon’s vehicle in the middle of a seasonal wash. Mallon was still trapped inside and was surrounded by fast moving and rising water. Due to the steep banks, high winds and torrential rain, ground units were unable to access the vehicle from the shore.
The Sheriff's desert patrol helicopter (40King3) was requested and responded from the Apple Valley Airport with a Sheriff's Dive Team member onboard. Multiple Dive Team members trained in swift water rescues were staged throughout the county in anticipation of the heavy rainfall over the weekend. Two of the members were assigned to ride with the Sheriff's Aviation Unit.
Once on scene, the crew of 40King3 hovered over the submerged vehicle and lowered Detective Mark Rios onto the roof. Rios was able to breakout the rear window of the vehicle and gain access to Mallon. Rios pulled Mallon from the vehicle and place him into a rescue harness. At this point, Mallon had been in the frigid water for over an hour and had difficulty moving on his own. Once in the harness, the crew lifted both Mallon and Rios to the shore via a long line rope attached to the helicopter. Mallon was seen by medical personnel and transported to Hi-Desert Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.
40King3 crew:
Pilot: Corporal Jon Anderson
Crew Chief: Deputy Cody Korkotsakis
Dive Team Member: Detective Mark Rios
Refer: Cpl. Jon Anderson
Station: Emergency Operations Division- Aviation Unit
Case #: DR# 091900210
Phone No. (909)252-4100
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
Address/Location
SBSD - Morongo Basin Sheriff's Department
63665 Twentynine Palms Highway
Joshua Tree, CA 92252
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1