Car over the side
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January 18,
1987 |
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By Kevin Walker
Quite evening at home with the family, yes? Well, I am sure you know the answer. The phone rang at a little after six in the evening. At the other end of the line was Walt Walker with the news of the request for our services in evacuating a body out of an automobile over the edge of Highway 243. The body had been found by two hikers.
When we arrived at the turnout along
the highway, between Lawler Lodge and Allandale,
we were met by Riverside County Deputy Coroner
Ken Nugent and Officer R.D. Holton from the
California Highway Patrol. They described to us
that the wreckage was approximately 250 feet down
from the highway lying upside down with the body
mostly out of the vehicle. The person we were
going to evacuate had been reported missing in
July of 1986. Because of the dangerous terrain it
had been wise to activate RMRU. Jim Fairchild and
Walt set up a lowering system using a large tree
as an anchor. Henry Negrete and I readied the
litter and extrication equipment. Once ready,
Henry and I, with our harnesses on and clipped
onto the litter, began our descent to the
wreckage. Jim managed the lowering rack. The snow
was not icy but the slope was steep. Progress
downward went fine. Our only obstacle was a
fallen tree that we had to go underneath. We soon
got to the car. Everything wen smoothly,
considering what we were doing. Henry and I
removed the snow that partially covered the body.
We opened the body bag, placed the body into it,
secured the bag into the plastic litter, radioed
up that we were ready, and then were pulled up by
Mary Bowman, Walt, Jim, Steve Bryant and Bud
White. Once back up the highway, gear was sorted,
and placed back in the van. Then we adjourned to
a great dinner at Michelli’s Italian
Restaurant in Idyllwild. Our thanks to Jade
Michael’s and his staff for staying open
past closing hours for us. With our stomachs
full, we headed for home.