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A multi-agency rescue operation concluded successfully over the weekend in Kern County, California, where a motorist who was trapped for nearly five days in a 100-foot ravine was saved. According to the Kern County Fire Department’s official statement, emergency communications received a call at 10:58 AM on September 2, alerting them to a vehicle at the bottom of a ravine off Comanche Point Road between the communities of Arvin and Stallion Springs.
Upon arriving at the scene, Engine 48 and Patrol 48 from the Kern County Fire Department found a badly damaged pickup truck and its lone, injured occupant at the bottom of the steep cliff. Realizing the gravity of the situation and the need for additional resources, the department dispatched four more engines, six patrols, and an Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team to assist in the rescue operation.
Utilizing their specialized USAR training, firefighters quickly built a rope rescue system to make initial contact with the injured motorist, who had been immobilized since the crash on August 29. Three additional firefighters, equipped by KCFD’s USAR 47 team, were then lowered to secure the individual in a stokes basket. With the help of a human pulley system, the patient was raised to safety.
The rescued motorist was initially transported by Hall Ambulance Service to a designated landing zone. From there, they were airlifted by Mercy Air 15 to a local hospital for further medical treatment. The California Highway Patrol and the Stallion Springs Police Department also provided valuable assistance during the on-scene operations.
While the motorist’s current medical condition remains undisclosed, the cause of the accident is still under investigation.
