WILKESON, Wash. — Two individuals were trapped after a vehicle slid off a road and fell 250 feet late Thursday night, prompting an extensive rescue operation, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office (PCSO).
Emergency responders were alerted shortly after 10:00 p.m. when one person made an iPhone SOS call. PCSO search and rescue teams arrived at the crash site near T. Rex Falls, approximately 12 miles from Wilkeson.
Upon reaching the area, rescuers found two individuals reporting a rollover collision near the mountain summit. They indicated that a 30-year-old man and a 20-year-old man remained trapped inside the vehicle, located 250 feet down a cliff.
One individual was pinned beneath the engine compartment, while the other was ejected, trapped in dense brush, PCSO officials stated. Harsh weather conditions, characterized by cold, wet, and foggy elements, complicated rescue efforts.
The PCSO requested assistance from rope technicians and volunteer search-and-rescue teams. One victim was hoisted to safety by Whidbey Island SAR and flown to a hospital.
Rescue crews, including firefighters and medical personnel, worked to stabilize both victims before airlifting them to local hospitals. The vehicle will not be towed and will remain at the site, authorities confirmed.
The nearly 11-hour rescue operation involved multiple agencies, with a few search-and-rescue personnel remaining on site to assist in equipment recovery. The PCSO expressed gratitude to all departments involved in the operation.