Rokitman
UTVUnderground La Familia
I went riding yesterday with my buddy Ron at the Pozo OHV area near Santa Margarita. We have both rode these trails numerous times and were having a good time. We were about 25 miles into a 30 mile loop and approaching the last stretch when we find the forest service locked the gate to the trail. So we either had to use paved roads to get back or take an alternate black diamond rock climb. We had done it before and Ron said he could make it so we back tracked and headed up it. I went first and hit the first obstacle and barely made it up. Ron was not so lucky. He got part way up, thought he was going over backwards, backed up, left wheels got in a rut and he rolled it on it's side.
Problem is, Ron is a paraplegic and is now trapped in his rig. My buddy Roy and I could not turn him over because of the angle and could not get him out so we ended up calling 911. Mind you we are in the middle of nowhere and not even accessible by regular 4x4s. After what seemed to be forever being shuffled around to different agencies and ending their confusion as to where we were, Cal Fire sent a spotter airplane and he saw us immediately and directed the first responder helicopter and Cal fire crews to the scene. About 45 minutes after the tip over the first crew showed up having to walk a mile over steep nasty terrain to get to us, followed by another Cal Fire crew, followed by the chopper crew who landed a half mile up the hill from us. There must have been at least 15 people who were up there responding to this.
Ron was doing ok but losing circulation in his arms even though I spent a half hour trying to loosen his shoulder harnesses.
After the first crew showed up I went to the top of the rock climb to help shuttle personnel down but it was way to sketchy to that so I parked it. Ron just wanted them to tip him over so he could go on his way but of course the EMT's would have no part of that and brought in a bigger chopper with lift capabilities to take Ron off the mountain to a waiting ambulance. He wasn't injured so we arranged for the ambulance to take him back to his van. I talked the fire crews into uprighting his rig and turning it downhill so I could get up there later and drive it down, but it started raining hard so the machine is still up there and we will get it down tomorrow when we have a break in the weather.
So I told Ron to save his money because no doubt he will get charged for 1 airplane, 2 choppers, 3 fire trucks, 1 ambulance, and a thirty pack of beer for me!
Problem is, Ron is a paraplegic and is now trapped in his rig. My buddy Roy and I could not turn him over because of the angle and could not get him out so we ended up calling 911. Mind you we are in the middle of nowhere and not even accessible by regular 4x4s. After what seemed to be forever being shuffled around to different agencies and ending their confusion as to where we were, Cal Fire sent a spotter airplane and he saw us immediately and directed the first responder helicopter and Cal fire crews to the scene. About 45 minutes after the tip over the first crew showed up having to walk a mile over steep nasty terrain to get to us, followed by another Cal Fire crew, followed by the chopper crew who landed a half mile up the hill from us. There must have been at least 15 people who were up there responding to this.
Ron was doing ok but losing circulation in his arms even though I spent a half hour trying to loosen his shoulder harnesses.
After the first crew showed up I went to the top of the rock climb to help shuttle personnel down but it was way to sketchy to that so I parked it. Ron just wanted them to tip him over so he could go on his way but of course the EMT's would have no part of that and brought in a bigger chopper with lift capabilities to take Ron off the mountain to a waiting ambulance. He wasn't injured so we arranged for the ambulance to take him back to his van. I talked the fire crews into uprighting his rig and turning it downhill so I could get up there later and drive it down, but it started raining hard so the machine is still up there and we will get it down tomorrow when we have a break in the weather.
So I told Ron to save his money because no doubt he will get charged for 1 airplane, 2 choppers, 3 fire trucks, 1 ambulance, and a thirty pack of beer for me!