WWW.LSSD.SAGOV.US Los Santos County Sheriff's Department News Release March 20, 2022 "A TRADITION OF SERVICE" Sheriff John Wallace |
- Helicopter Crash Leads to Death of a Respected Deputy-
- The Sheriff's Department responded to a distress call from an MD unit at 03:50 a.m on March 18, 2022. It was determined that the unit had responded to a 911 call near Great Ocean Tolls. Sheriff Kirk and his partner arrived on the scene. It was determined that the MD units had fallen into the appropriately nicknamed "death crevice" that resides under Great Ocean Tolls. Sheriff Kirk and his partner along with his partner made their way down to assess the situation where they found a deceased individual and an injured MD unit. Sheriff Kirk made his way back up the hill as the MEDEVAC lowered its altitude, unfortunately, his partner never made it up.
After the rotor of the helicopter struck the pillar and caused major engine failure, resulting in a major freefall with the back rotors still spinning. The back rotor caught the deputy in its visceral spinning and dismembered him instantly. It is believed that his death was instantaneous and painless. The trauma of seeing his partner being eviscerated in front of him, led to Sheriff Kirk losing his footing on the hill and tumbling down, resulting in leg injuries. Before Sheriff Kirk was injured, he said over the radio about the rotors hitting his partner. Master Deputy Olsen noticed this and responded before Los Santos Emergency Medical services called all available units to attempt to rescue Sheriff Bobby Kirk and the two injured MD units.
After a first attempt into the crevice, another deputy and members of MD also fell in and injured themselves. Eventually, Paramedic Remmi Raccoon led the rescue effort along with Lieutenant Carlile from the Sheriff's Department. Police Officer III Peter Stanford and Deputy Sheriff III Alex Matthews were able to carry the injured out of the crevice with major assistance and guidance from Paramedic Remmi Raccoon.
All injured five injured deputies and EMS members were safely removed from the crevice and taken to Paleto Medical to receive treatment and psychiatric evaluation from the trauma being trapped in the crevice.
###
- For Information, Contact:
Master Deputy Timothee Olsen
(909) 282-1222 — [email protected]
Sheriff's Information Division
Los Santos County Sheriff's Department
Procopio Promenade 1, Paleto Bay
Los Santos, SA, 909