A 14-year-old snowmobiler from Lake Oswego sustained serious injuries after a collision with a tree near Bend, as reported by KOIN. The accident occurred Saturday afternoon, shortly before 4 p.m., off the Elk Lake Loop trail.
The Deschutes County Search & Rescue Foundation dispatched nine volunteers who worked to create a landing spot for the AirLink helicopter on a nearby trail due to the inaccessible terrain at the crash site, reported KATU. The urgency of the situation was heightened when it was learned the teen had lost consciousness, although temporarily.
The victim, whose current health status is undisclosed, was stabilized and then transported approximately 1.6 miles to the awaiting helicopter in what is known as a "SAR Snowbulance," according to KPTV. By 6:44 p.m., she had been loaded into the helicopter and flown to a hospital in Bend for further medical attention.
