UPPER LAKE, Calif. – A motorcyclist injured in a Saturday afternoon crash in the Mendocino National Forest had to be rescued with the help of a helicopter.
The crash, which was reported about the middle of Saturday afternoon, occurred about a mile and a half from the Upper Deer Valley Road and a mile and a half down the Sled Ridge Trail above Upper Lake, according to Northshore Fire Chief Jay Beristianos.
Beristianos said the male motorcyclist crashed and suffered a leg injury.
Because of the remoteness of the location, Beristianos said it was going to be a long, uncomfortable ride out to the hospital for the injured rider.
So Northshore Fire requested Kelseyville Fire respond with its all-terrain rescue vehicle, although Beristianos said that would still have been a bad ride.
Then, “The clouds kind of cleared a little bit and we were able to get a helicopter in,” he said.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office’s Henry-1 helicopter responded and did a long line rescue, and then flew the rider to Middle Creek Campground, Beristianos said.
From there, Beristianos said a Northshore Fire ambulance took the rider to Sutter Lakeside Hospital.
Meantime, Kelseyville Fire used its all-terrain vehicle to take other people from the location and down the hill, which Beristianos said was a huge help.
In addition to Northshore Fire, Kelseyville Fire and Henry-1, Mendocino National Forest units responded to the incident, Beristianos said.
Radio reports indicated firefighters cleared the scene just after 4:45 p.m.
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Helicopter responds to rescue injured motorcyclist
- Elizabeth Larson
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