YACHATS – A 63-year-old California woman was taken to a Corvallis hospital by LifeFlight helicopter late Saturday night after crews from at least five agencies rescued her from a steep ravine off a Forest Service road south of Yachats.
News releases from the Lincoln and Lane sheriff’s offices said the woman was alone in a side-by-side ATV and drove off Forest Service Road 58 east of Cummins Peak Road and went 200-300 feet into a ravine below.
She failed to meet up with her cousin and a friend from the area, so the two searched for her before calling authorities Saturday afternoon, the Lane County Sheriff’s office said in a new release Tuesday. Her family later identified her as Susan Estrada of Temecula, Calif.
Tim O’Neill, a seasonal firefighter for the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District who was staying at the district’s station along Yachats River Road, saw the tracks of her ATV leading off the road and into the ravine and spotted her below.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies, search and rescue teams from Lincoln and Lane counties, area fire departments, and the Lincoln County Technical Rescue Team spent six hours at the scene, according to the Yachats fire district and a news release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. Lincoln County Search and Rescue Senior Deputy Bruce Maguire said the woman was wearing a helmet, “which likely saved her life.”
McGuire used a drone to help gather information on the woman’s location and condition. Due to the steep terrain, Maguire called in the county’s technical rescue team and with help from Lane County, rescuers made their way to the woman. Maguire said the woman had injured her right leg preventing her from hiking up the steep hillside.
Excellent job, Tim … and the entire rescue team.
This is about my mother, Susan Estrada, of Temecula, California. Me, my dad and my friend all flew out the day after. My mother also has a GoFundMe page that needs more support if this site would be willing to post it. Thanks again.
We are grateful for each and everyone who participated in Susie’s rescue.
Dan and his cousin both went on and on about Sergeant Patrick Dougherty. He was the first on scene and immediately made his way down to Susie. He put her at ease….blocking her from falling further down the ravine. She told me how they talked about their daughters. She is back home in California , recovering.
Heartfelt thanks to all who took part in this difficult rescue!!
I have ridden in one of these single seat off road vehicles and have found them to be very safe. I think the fact the rider was wearing a helmet and was strapped in contributed to saving her worse injuries. The biggest safety device these vehicles have is the very sturdy roll bars, which in my opinion saved her life.