Horseback rider rescued after fall

A 72-year-old Eugene man was life-flighted to St. Charles in Bend on Sunday, after a horse wreck on the Pacific Crest Trail.

On Sunday, July 16, at about 10:10 a.m., Linn County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue was notified that a man had had fallen off a horse on the Pacific Crest Trail about 1.25 miles north of the intersection on Highway 20 near Ray Benson Snow Park. Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue was requested to assist Linn County SAR based on the proximity of the SAR teams to the incident.

There were currently two DCSO SAR members and a friend hiking the PCT on their way to summit Three Fingered Jack. After receiving the request for SAR resources, they turned around to make initial contact with the fallen rider. In the meantime, one Linn County SAR deputy, two Forest Service officers, Sisters Fire District personnel, nine Deschutes County SAR volunteers and one DCSO SAR deputy responded to the incident.

The fallen rider, Melvin Van Cleve, was riding with family and friends, a total of six riders, on their way for a day's ride to upper and lower Berley Lakes. Van Cleve's horse was spooked by a snag near the trail, causing Van Cleave to fall.

The rider had sustained injuries that required transportation on a wheeled litter down to the trailhead at Highway 20. During the litter transport it was determined Van Cleve's injuries were potentially life-threatening and would require him to be transported by air ambulance. Life Flight was dispatched to a landing zone set up across the highway and Van Cleve was transported to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend.