DATE/TIME: Saturday, March 13, 2021 / 10:47 A.M.
INCIDENT: Search & Rescue
LOCATION: Mount Baldy
SUMMARY: On Saturday, March 13, 2021, at about 10:47 a.m., San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Aviation received a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) signal, indicating a person was in possible distress on Mt. Baldy. The PLB provided a global positioning satellite signal (GPS) location. The crew of 40King4, Flight Officer Deputy Jacob Hernandez, and pilot Reserve Deputy Ted Byerly responded and found an injured hiker. Due to the hiker’s remote location and injuries, they realized a hoist rescue was necessary. They requested assistance from the crew of Air Rescue 306. Pilot Deputy Doug Brimmer, Crew Chief Deputy Larry Scott, Air Medic Stacy Price, and Air Medic Christopher Williams responded to the mountain. They attempted a hoist rescue, but low cloud cover prevented the crew from safely completing the rescue.
Deputy James Thompson coordinated multiple volunteers from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, West Valley Search and Rescue Team who responded to aid the injured hiker. The volunteers hiked in and found the injured party, who was being assisted by other hikers and escorted him to safety. The injured party was transported to a trauma center for evaluation of not life-threatening injuries. The investigation later determined the injured party hiked off-trail when he was caught in an avalanche and injured.
For more information on hiking and wilderness safety tips, visit https:westvalleysar.org/.
Refer: Deputy James Thompson / Sergeant Matthew Gordon
Station: Fontana
Phone No. (909) 356-6767
Case No. 032100668
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
