DATE/TIME: Tuesday, December 14, 2021, 1:40 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
INCIDENT: Swift Water Rescue
LOCATION: Santa Ana River near Riverside Avenue and Agua Mansa Road, Colton
SUSPECT(S): N/A
VICTIM(S): Gerard Melonson, 62, Michael Stone, 53, Chris Haynes, 35, Monica Necusker, 41, Julio Guerra, 59, Robert Garrett, 51, Arthur Ortiz, 43, William Gill, 60, and Alejandro Ruiz, 24, all transients living in the Santa Ana River Wash.
SUMMARY: On Tuesday, December 14, 2021, San Bernardino County Fire Dispatch requested assistance from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Aviation Unit regarding subjects stranded in the Santa Ana River. Recent rainfall flooded the normally dry river and trapped several subjects on small pockets of land. The crew of Air Rescue 307 responded from San Bernardino in adverse weather conditions, battling rain and wind during the flight.
Upon arrival, the crew spotted several stranded subjects waving for help. The crew hoisted a Sheriff's Dive Team member down to them and each victim was individually rescued and transported to awaiting medical personnel. One victim was rescued from a tree house over water, while another victim was rescued from a vehicle caught in the flood. The remaining victims and two dogs were rescued from land areas surrounded by rushing water. In total, nine people and two dogs were rescued during the mission.
Air Rescue 307 Crew
Pilot - Lieutenant Dan Futscher
Hoist Operator - Corporal Chris Mejia
Medic - Doctor Steve Patterson
Medic - Nurse Tom Gallant
Diver - Deputy Kevin Connors
Refer: Chris Mejia, Corporal
Station: Emergency Operations Division - Aviation Unit
Phone No. (909) 525-4100
Case No. BDC# 21-301024
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
