WILKESON, Wash. — Two individuals were rescued after their vehicle slid off a road and fell 250 feet near Wilkeson late Thursday night.
According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office (PCSO), the incident occurred shortly after 10:00 p.m. when one occupant used an iPhone SOS call for help, prompting a response from PCSO search and rescue teams to the crash site near T. Rex Falls, approximately 12 miles from Wilkeson.
Upon arrival, rescuers encountered two individuals walking down the road who reported that they had a rollover collision near the top of a mountain. They indicated that a 30-year-old man and a 20-year-old man were still trapped inside the vehicle, located 250 feet down a cliff.
One victim was pinned beneath the engine compartment, while the other was ejected and trapped in dense brush. PCSO noted that adverse weather conditions, including cold, wet, and foggy conditions, complicated access to the crash site.
PCSO requested assistance from rope technicians and volunteer search-and-rescue teams. One of the trapped individuals was hoisted from the site by Whidbey Island SAR and flown to a hospital. Crew members, including firefighters and a doctor, worked to stabilize both victims before they were airlifted to local hospitals.
A few search-and-rescue personnel are expected to remain on scene to assist East Pierce Fire & Rescue with equipment recovery, while the vehicle will not be towed and will remain in place, according to officials.
The rescue operation lasted nearly 11 hours, and PCSO expressed gratitude to the various departments involved.