A man suffered serious injuries Sunday afternoon after an off-road vehicle crash on a rural property north of Decatur, prompting a multi-agency emergency response that included a drone search and a helicopter flight to a Fort Worth trauma center. Decatur Fire Department, Wise County EMS, and law enforcement were dispatched around 2:15 pm to the crash site.
The accident happened on a property in the 1600-1800 block of Old Decatur Road, according to the Wise County Messenger. Responding units launched a drone to help locate the patient and found him shortly after arriving on scene. Wise County EMS Chief Randall Preuninger told the outlet that the male patient sustained serious injuries in the crash.
Once crews reached him, Air Evac Lifeteam 68 launched and flew the man to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth, per Chief Preuninger's account to the same outlet. Air Evac Lifeteam provides the air ambulance service in Decatur.
A Trauma Center Built for Severe Injuries
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth was redesignated as a Comprehensive Level I Trauma Facility by the Texas Department of State Health Services, according to Texas Health Resources, and it maintains 24-hour in-house surgical coverage along with subspecialized trauma resources.
On scene, the response drew from a wide roster of agencies. Wise County EMS Medic-5, Rescue-1, and EMS Squad-1 responded alongside Decatur Fire Department, the Wise County Sheriff's Office, and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, the Messenger's report notes.
Drone Search Reflects Standard Rural Response
The drone search helped locate the patient in this rural Wise County emergency.
EMS Squad-1 was one of the units that responded.
Regional Investment and Off-Road Vehicle Risk
Wise County EMS opened Station 5 in Alvord in June 2026, with officials expecting it to significantly reduce response times in northwest Wise County, the Wise County Messenger reported in May.
The crash also underscores broader risks tied to off-highway vehicles. Texas law requires DOT-compliant helmets and eye protection for OHV operators on public land, beaches, or highways under Transportation Code Section 551A.072, but private-property use, like the crash site in this case, is not subject to those same equipment mandates.
No additional details about the patient's condition or the cause of Sunday's crash were available at the time of the Messenger's report.
