One night, three missions for search and rescue

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) Search and Rescue (SAR) Team assisted with three separate missions around the county on the evening of Friday, June 25.

At about 5:54 p.m., a DCSO special services deputy was dispatched to an injured hiker near Broken Hand, a small peak to the northeast of Broken Top. A hiker had been injured in a fall, requiring immediate medical attention and evacuation. The deputy immediately paged out for SAR volunteers and made contact with AirLink. AirLink transported three SAR volunteers from St. Charles Medical Center to the location of the patient. SAR volunteers stabilized the patient and carried him to the area where the helicopter was able to land. The patient was transported via AirLink back to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend for further treatment.

The SAR volunteers on scene escorted another hiking partner and their dog back to the trailhead at Three Creek Lake. All volunteers were back in quarters by 2:15 a.m.

At 8:07 p.m., a DCSO special services deputy was advised of a lost hiker near the South Sister Climbers Trail.

A hiker had separated from his group while on the trail.

The hiker headed back towards the trailhead by himself and took a wrong turn.

The hiker ended up on the Pacific Crest Trail and relayed to the rest of his party that he was lost, just before his phone died.

SAR volunteers were sent to the area to begin checking trails.

Volunteers left a note for the hiker on his vehicle to call 911 if he made it back to his vehicle.

Just before midnight, the hiker made his way out to Cascade Lakes Highway, about five miles south of Devils Lake.

The hiker flagged down a motorist and received a ride back to his car, where he found the note and called in.

All volunteers were back in quarters by 1:41 a.m.

At about 10:40 p.m., a DCSO special services deputy was dispatched to a lost motorist near Fredrick Butte Road, on the south side of Highway 20 east, between Brothers and Hampton. Dispatch provided the deputy with coordinates for the lost motorist. The motorist had left all roads and was driving through a vast area of sagebrush. The deputy attempted to guide the motorist back toward a road by phone, but that attempt failed. The deputy drove out to the area, located the driver, and guided her back to Highway 20.