JACKSON, Wyo. — Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) was mobilized to help a 16-year-old girl who suffered serious head trauma from an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) crash on Shadow Mountain on Tuesday, Aug. 6. She was then airlifted to Idaho Falls for medical treatment.
According to the agency’s announcement, the team was contacted by dispatch at 1:32 p.m. on Tuesday. The 16-year-old, visiting from out of town, was riding the ATV as part of a larger guided group and was wearing a helmet. TCSAR said the cause of the accident is unknown.
TCSAR members approached the scene using both the helicopter and ground vehicles. They also enlisted the help of the Air Idaho helicopter ambulance to provide airlift support if necessary.
The accident occurred in a densely forested area on Shadow Mountain, leading two volunteers to approach the site via a long line from the helicopter. Those two volunteers began initial treatment of the patient and prepared her to be short-hauled away by the heli. A thunderstorm rolled in right as the helicopter was about to retrieve the patient and volunteers, grounding the helicopter on the valley floor.
Volunteers in ground vehicles drove to the scene, retrieved the patient and brought her down a dirt road. When the storm let up momentarily, TCSAR’s helicopter took off and met the ground vehicles, picked up the patient and transported her to a waiting Jackson Hole Fire/EMS ambulance and the Air Idaho helicopter stationed at Lost Creek Ranch. Air Idaho transported the patient to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
“TCSAR extends our most sincere thoughts and prayers to the girl and her family during this difficult time,” TCSAR said in a Facebook post. “The team is grateful for the support from participating agencies, and offers its gratitude to Lost Creek Ranch, which was not involved in this incident, for providing a landing zone for two helicopters and a safe space to conduct this rescue.”
