West Kelowna

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR), Penticton Search and Rescue, BC Ambulance, West Kelowna Fire and the RCMP all responded to a vehicle rollover about 20 kilometres up Bartley Road near Haymin Lake on Saturday.

COSAR Search Manager Dave Crawford says four people were in a 4x4 vehicle ascending a steep hill when the drive shaft broke, causing the vehicle to roll backwards out of control.

The vehicle rolled, and one person was ejected.

Crawford adds that all the occupants suffered injuries to some extent, the most serious being a head injury to the person that was ejected.

Due to the serious nature of the injuries and the very rough road to evacuate the subjects, the Penticton SAR Helicopter External Transport System (H.E.T.S). team was asked to assist.

They responded from Penticton and made several trips from the accident scene to Shannon Lake Road to transfer three of the subjects to waiting ambulances.

“The decision to use the H.E.T.S. team is not taken lightly due to the risk to both rescuers and subjects. We call them when the injuries are serious and the evacuation of the subject over long distances or rough terrain will aggravate those injuries. We’re fortunate to have such a valuable resource close by. They did a great job, and did it safely and fast. If we had to drive the subjects out, it would have taken a long time and they would have had a very rough ride,” says Crawford.

”Several members of BC Ambulance also went above and beyond in getting to the scene quickly and providing immediate care. Fortunately we got great information from one of the subjects who wasn’t seriously hurt and had a cell phone. He stayed calm and assisted us with assessing the situation and in finding them quickly.”

Air Rescue West Kelowna July 14 2012

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe

Photo: Contributed

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe

Photo: Contributed

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe

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