PSA: WHY SO MANY MOTORCYCLE CRASHES ON ANGELES CREST HIGHWAY? One good reason: Physics. #crash #rescue #motorcycle #mountain

FOUR, count em, FOUR separate motorcycle crashes in 2 hours today. One fatal, one critical (airlifted), two transported by ambulance and one very unlucky pedestrian who got both legs broken by a sliding motorcycle. In a twist of fate, the first crash was over the side at the same place that four teens crashed in a car at night with one of them dying from their injuries (photo at memorial site). It was Pasadena’s section of Angeles Crest Highway and on-scene today were units from Glendale, Monrovia, and Arcadia fire departments. Luckily, Air 5 medics were driving up to their helibase in SUVs and came upon the 2nd crash, with the rider in critical condition and a bystander with two broken legs. We assisted with treatment and air squad coordination. So many factors affect motorcycles on a hot day: • Heat and dehydration slow reactions, blur judgment, and make inputs clumsy before the bike feels wrong. • Tires grip well only in a temperature window; overheating makes them smear and wear faster. Heat also raises pressure and shrinks the contact patch. • Hot tar snakes, paint, and oily patches turn slick; a bike tire can sit fully on one mid-corner. • Long descents overheat brakes. Moisture in old fluid lowers its boiling point, so the lever can go soft. • Engines lose some power from heat and altitude; climbs can push coolant and oil temps up. • Repeated braking and blind turns leave little room to recover. Brake before the corner, use engine braking, scan for sealant, and stop if you feel vague or dizzy. Slow your roll and live to ride another day. #crash #motorcycle #death #mountain #rescue @LASDHQ @CVLASD @MontroseSAR @PasadenaFD

THIS is what mental health looks like. A morning debrief after a traumatic rescue. Sunday night we were activated to find a lost hiker who sent a satellite 911 text. We had his exact location, so a pretty standard operation. On the way there we were notified of a motorcycle-vs-car crash a few miles up the road. Me and Sean were first on-scene to total chaos. One car crashed, multiple cars all over the road and the motorcyclist down with a partial leg amputation and massive blood loss. A civilian had applied a standard belt, but the rider was bleeding out. I directed Sean to place a tourniquet above the belt and the bleeding stopped. The next team members to arrive are new-ish to the team (and happen to be married!). They did excellent in secondary assessments in the face of a pretty horrific scene. Additional team members and fire personnel arrived to package and transport the rider to an emergency room via copter. From there Sean and I drove miles down a dirt road and found the lost hiker. While woefully unprepared, it might be easy to criticize him. He was very apologetic, so I told him that if he hadn’t hit the SOS, we wouldn’t have been in a location close enough to save the motorcyclist. Everything happens for a reason. The LA Sheriff’s Department is on the forefront of mental health of its personnel. While trained professionals are always available to all Department members, the best after-actions are meeting with the team and talking. (Ok, I learned this when I was today years old. Lol). Then, continue to check on your partners moving forward. UPDATE: The rider works with one of our teammates who helped stabilize him, and he is alive and in surgery! Prayers for his recovery as this will be a life altering event. 🙏 As Rudyard Kipling said, “When you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs..” @LASDHQ @LACoSheriff @CVLASD @CPBLASD #rescue #trauma #crash #mountain #emergency

Today’s call was a Porche 300’ over the side of Angeles Crest Highway. Driver had moderate injuries and was transported by Air Rescue 5. According to witnesses, speed maaaaaay have been a factor… @LASDHQ @LACoSheriff

3 CLIFFHANGERS WITHIN MINUTES!!! Location was May Canyon in Sylmar. The first two women got into a position where they couldn’t go up or down. Both were injured by rockfall. One of them used the iPhone 911 satellite text feature and @MontroseSAR responded along with @SEBLASD Air Rescue 5. The medic had to be on the hook for a 250’ hoist due to the steep terrain, a long hoist compared to the usual 150’ they regularly perform. At one point the medic was completely out of sight from the Crew Chief. Only because of constant training and deployments, the crew kept their cool and took care of business. When Air 5 landed with both patients they provided treatment for the girls’ head trauma. Then we heard screaming nearby down a canyon. Another hiker was stuck while trying to climb up a draw which was deteriorating under her feet. Not requiring technical gear, I climbed down to her and our sergeant tossed me a rope. I secured the hiker using a bowline on a bight and topside slowly pulled her up. We always say, “We aren’t here for this call, we’re here for the next one”. Rescues seem to breed rescues. Everyone home safe for dinner. Saving lives is priority 1. @LASDHQ @LACoSheriff

RESCUE! A hiker experienced an ankle injury and sent a 911 SOS satellite message. @MontroseSAR responded along with @LACoFDPIO . Hiker located and hoisted by Air Rescue 5. Transferred to an ambulance after air medics assisted her to safety. Be careful out there. @LASDHQ @LACoSheriff @CPBLASD

Honored to be part of this today! Thank you @LACoSheriff !

RESCUE AT SWITZER FALLS! College age male fell and separated his shoulder. Copter unable to locate him. We ran down the trail and found him. Stabilized his shoulder and walked him out with @LACoFDPIO. This was our 3rd rescue in 24 hours, which explains why @MontroseSAR is the busiest rescue team in California. Saving lives is priority 1. @LASDHQ @LACoSheriff @CPBLASD @CVLASD

CRITICAL MISSING: FOUND! At 6pm Palmdale Sheriff Station received a 911 call from a mother who got separated from her 11yr old son in the forest on Mount Pacifico. She last saw him at 4pm. Montrose SAR was asked to assist, along with Air Rescue 5 and a patrol helicopter. A drone team from Altadena SAR was mobilizing. When we arrived on-scene and interviewed the mom, she said he was wearing a new pair of Merrill boots. So when I found this boot track I knew he had been there. The tracks appeared to be 3-4 hours old, within the window of when he went missing. Later, when I found his name spelled out across the road, we had no doubts. Both helicopters converged and I went running down the road. Soon after that we were told that a motorist had picked him up 6 miles away on Angeles Crest Highway. Everyone home for dinner! Saving lives is priority 1. @LASDHQ @LACoSheriff @PalmdaleSheriff @AltadenaMRT @MontroseSAR

CLIFF RESCUE! This afternoon a solo climber fell into a crevice during her descent on a difficult route on Strawberry Peak. Luckily she had a bear horn which she activated and alerted other climbers. One of those climbers had an inReach satellite device and used the SOS feature. Once we received the coordinates from the California Office of Emergency Services, we notified Air Rescue 5. We responded on the ground while Air 5 spooled up and was on-scene in minutes. A tactical medic was lowered to the climber and evaluated her injuries. She was hoisted into Air 5 and transported to the highway. Only having minor injuries, she declined further medical treatment and we took her to her car. She was very appreciative of the rescue effort and became emotional when she realized how close to death she came. Air Rescue 5 is pre-deployed at a helibase in the middle of the Angeles National Forest every day and is ready to respond to all hazard situations. Saving lives is priority 1. @LASDHQ @LACoSheriff @SEBLASD @ABC7 @KCBSKCALDesk @NBCLA @KTLA5NEWSDESK @foxladesk

We will never stop looking for you. Open missing persons cases only close when the person is found. New information will always be investigated. Sometimes all we can do is provide closure. @LASDHQ @LACoSheriff @SEBLASD @CPBLASD

RESCUES! Busy 90 minutes for Air Rescue 5 on Angeles Crest Highway! First call was a medical emergency, followed by a solo vehicle crash into the hillside, then a motorcycle down call. Finally, 2 missing hikers out of Switzer Falls!! Saving lives is priority #1. @LASDHQ @LACoSheriff @SEBLASD

RESCUE: It’s hot out there. Today Air Rescue 5 responded to a person with a heat related emergency on Catalina Island near Avalon. Victim was hoisted and transferred to ground units. Whether it is heat exhaustion (sweating, dizziness, cold & clammy skin), or the more severe and life threatening heat stroke (body temp over 103 degrees, dry skin, confusion, coma), immediate treatment must be given. In days like these, hike or exercise early in the morning or at the end of the day. The life you save might be your own! Saving lives (including YOURS) is priority 1. @lasdhq @lacosheriff @seblasd @lasd_seb_events #rescue #heat

Today Reserve Deputy and Doctor Matthieu DeClerck gave a seminar on high altitude rescues to executives and the elite Air Rescue 5 pilots and operators. With a sharp increase in rescues at higher elevations, it is paramount that our pilots, crew chiefs and medics are able to operate safely. DeClerck has practiced medicine all over the world in austere environments. Assigned to the Special Enforcement Bureau and Emergency Services Detail, he flies on Air 5 at least once a week offering victims of trauma immediate and lifesaving advanced medical care. Reserve Deputy DeClerck exemplifies the best of our Reserve Deputy program, bringing his skill sets to bear for the benefit of citizens and Department members. Remember, “the bear goes everywhere”. Saving lives is always priority 1. @LASDHQ @CPBLASD @LACoSheriff

CRASH: Air Rescue 5 and US Forest Service firefighters responded to a motorcycle crash on Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road today. Air 5 on scene in minutes. Treated and transported well within the “golden hour” of survivability for victims of trauma. This coordination between agencies saves lives, which is always priority 1. @LASDHQ @SEBLASD @LACoSheriff @firechiefanf @Angeles_NF

On Tuesday at 2:45 pm a vehicle went 400’ over the side of Angeles Crest Highway resulting in a fire. @LACOFD , US Forest Service, @CHPAltadena , @CVLASD @MontroseSAR all responded. The driver was outside the vehicle with severe burns and injuries. Air Rescue 5 was able to hoist the victim while US Forest Service firefighters attacked the fire and achieved a quick knockdown. Multiple agencies, one mission. Saving lives priority #1 @LASDHQ @LACoSheriff @firechiefanf