Full Notification

DATE/TIME: Sunday, June 5, 2022 1:20 p.m.

INCIDENT: Hoist Rescues 

LOCATION: Cucamonga Peak, Mt. Baldy & Vivian Creek Trail, Forest Falls

SUSPECT(S):      

VICTIM(S): Jessica Leibelt, 33 years old, St. Petersburg, Florida.  
Heidy Pacheco, 42 years old, Los Angeles, California.   


SUMMARY: On Sunday, June 5, 2022, the Office of Emergency Services (CAL-OES) contacted the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department in reference to an injured hiker in the Mt. Baldy area.  Fontana Sheriff's Station requested Sheriff's Aviation to assist with locating the hiker. Sheriff's patrol helicopter 40King4 (40K4) responded to the area and located Jessica Leibelt on a trail at the 8,500 ft. level of Cucamonga Peak. Leibelt received an ankle injury from a fall and could no longer walk or stand. 40K4 coordinated with Sheriff's Air Rescue 306 (AR306) that a hoist would be necessary to safely get Leibelt to medical personnel. AR306 arrived on scene and hoisted down an air medic for patient contact. The air medic placed a splint on Leibelt and secured her into a rescue harness prior to being hoisted up to the helicopter. AR306 flew Leibelt to the San Antonio Dam where she was transported to San Antonio Community Hospital by American Medical Response.  

On the same date, at 2:40 p.m., a 911 caller reported an injured hiker, Heidy Pacheco, was struck in her ankle by a falling  boulder, breaking it. 40K4 responded and located Pacheco on the Vivian Creek Trail at the 8,700 ft. level of the San Gorgonio Mountains. Pacheco was unable to continue hiking or stand on her injured foot. 40K4 coordinated with AR306 for a hoist rescue. AR306 arrived on scene and lowered an air medic to assess Pacheco. Passing hikers placed Pacheco in an improvised splint prior to Sheriff's arrival. She was placed into a rescue harness and flown to the Forest Falls Cal-Trans yard. She was transported to Loma Linda University Medical Center by American Medical Response.

40King4 Crew: Pilot Corporal Paul Kowalski
                          TFO Deputy Jessica Aguilera

Air Rescue 306 Crew: Pilot Deputy Doug Brimmer
                                     Crew Chief Deputy Tommy Dickey
                                      Air Medic Reserve Deputy Steve Miller
                                      Air Medic RN Tom Gallant     

Refer: Deputy Doug Brimmer

Station: Emergency Operations Division/Aviation Unit

Phone No. 909-252-4100

Case No. DR#032201592, DR#042200392

SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department