Placerville Biker Spends Night Down 30-Foot Ravine
A dirt biker wrecked his motorcycle and fell down a 30-foot ravine on a mountain road in El Dorado County near Placerville on the evening of June 18, 2017.
What Happened?
While camping in the mountains with his family, the biker, who’s identity has yet to be released, set out on a solo ride Saturday afternoon. He was riding on Caldor Road when he came upon a bend in the road with a washed out section. Without enough time to stop, the rider slid off the edge of the road and fell 30 feet to the bottom of a ravine. He was not able to move after the accident because of his traumatic injuries resulting from the impact and drop. The location of the ravine was not in range of any cell towers so, unable to call for help, the motorcyclist was forced to spend the night, unable to move, while awaiting rescue.
After the rider did not return to camp that evening, his family became concerned as to his whereabouts and commenced a search for the missing member. They finally found him in the morning on his stomach where he had lain all night since the time of the motorcycle accident. Upon discovering him, they had to travel 3 miles in order to find cell service and call for emergency services.
The location of the injured motorcycle rider was difficult for the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to reach by helicopter because of the heavily forested area. Paramedics and El Dorado County Sheriff’s deputies worked together quickly to devise a rescue plan. They placed the victim in a rescue basket and used a winch, mounted on an off-road vehicle to hoist him out of the ravine and back onto the road. From there, emergency personnel drove him to the helicopter that had landed nearby and flew him to the Sutter Roseville Medical Center.
How did it Happen?
Back and Spine injuries are both life altering and extremely traumatic. Riding a motorcycle or dirt bike leaves your body much more exposed than in a traditional vehicle. Even with proper motorcycle protective gear, collisions with hard objects can cause serious injuries. The road where this incident occurred runs through the El Dorado National Forest. A collision between the rider and a tree after sliding off the road is highly likely.
Any number of injuries could have caused the biker to be unable to move. Femur fractures, especially in both legs would render one unable to walk or stand. Another common injury is a fracture of both the tibia and fibula or the shin bones. If fractured all the way through, it becomes extremely painful and dangerous to move around. Paralysis occurs when the spinal cord is damaged or severed. This occurs when a fractured vertebra punctures, or lacerates, the cord. If there is a possibility of having a fractured vertebrae, it is important to hold still as long as you are in a relatively safe environment even if you feel like you can move. Movement of the spine can cause damage to the spinal cord from sharp bone fragments even after the initial impact.
Placerville Motorcycle Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Placerville Personal Injury Lawyer. If you, or someone you love, have suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle accident, please call me for free and friendly advice. You can reach me at (530) 392-9400 or by calling me toll-free at (800) 404-5400.
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Image Source: By Zach Dischner – Wikimedia Commons
Sources:
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article156932639.html
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Caldor+Rd,+Somerset,+CA+95684/@38.7835612,-120.2072193,11.28z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x809a1526839cb37d:0xb412115a69a12853!8m2!3d38.607276!4d-120.5119025
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