In a swift response to a harrowing vehicle mishap near Petaluma, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office's Henry-1 helicopter came to the aid of a distressed teenager. The incident, which unfolded on the afternoon of February 7, saw the helicopter crew arriving within three minutes of the call for help. Onboard were a Sheriff’s Office Paramedic and a Tactical Flight Officer, an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) ready to provide immediate medical assistance.

The accident occurred on Chileno Valley RD, where the victims needed urgent care due to the location's remoteness. After their touchdown in a field nearby, the paramedic began to rapidly treat the most critically injured patient—a 16-year-old male supposedly ejected from the vehicle. According to a post on the Sonoma Sheriff's Facebook page, ground units, including the Petaluma Fire Department, Gold Ridge Fire Department, and a Sonoma County Fire District ambulance, followed suit to attend to the other casualties.

The Henry-1 crew and the Incident Commander on site jointly made the decision to fly the injured youth to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Consequently, the patient was whisked away to the hospital in stable condition, ensuring the fastest possible access to potentially life-saving medical treatment.

Investigations into the cause of the collision are currently underway by the California Highway Patrol.