WILKESON, Wash. — Two men were injured after a vehicle slid off a road and fell 250 feet late Thursday night, prompting a lengthy rescue operation, authorities said.
At approximately 10:00 p.m., a 30-year-old man and a 20-year-old man were reported trapped in the vehicle after an iPhone SOS call was made. The Pierce County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) dispatched search and rescue teams to the site near T. Rex Falls, 12 miles from Wilkeson.
Upon arrival, rescuers encountered two individuals who had escaped the vehicle following a rollover collision. The trapped victims were located down a cliff, with one pinned beneath the engine compartment and the other ejected into dense brush, according to PCSO.
Challenging weather conditions, described as cold, wet, and foggy, hampered rescue efforts. PCSO requested assistance from rope technicians and volunteer search-and-rescue teams. One victim was subsequently hoisted from the scene and airlifted to a nearby hospital.
Emergency crews, including firefighters and medical personnel, worked to stabilize both victims before their airlift to local hospitals. The PCSO confirmed both were transported successfully as crews began clearing the area.
The vehicle will not be towed and will remain at the crash site, according to officials. The entire rescue operation lasted nearly 11 hours, with PCSO thanking various agencies involved in the effort.