Local Agencies Rescue Trapped Driver Down Hillside

CALPINE — On March 5th, Sierra County Law Enforcement and medical agencies responded to a vehicle that had gone off the road approximately 3 miles north of Calpine on Highway 89. The Sierra County Sheriff’s Office says the driver and a dog were trapped in the vehicle for almost 22 hours before being discovered and rescued.

The Sheriff’s Office received a call at 10:03 AM from a passing motorist who had passed the wreckage but was unsure if anyone was still in the vehicle. Eastern Plumas Ambulance, Sierra County Fire, California Highway Patrol, and a Sheriff’s Deputy were immediately dispatched. The responders found the car 30 feet down a hillside with an occupant and a dog still inside.

Mutual aid was requested from the US Forest Service and Graeagle Fire, who assisted with extracting the driver. The driver was removed after “nearly an hour of meticulous work” and transported to the hospital with moderate injuries. The dog appeared uninjured and was released to a friend of the driver for care. California Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the cause of the crash.