Man thrown from dirt bike in remote area of park airlifted to hospital

A man suffered an accident while riding his motorized dirt bike in a remote area of Prairie City OHV Park on Sunday, and required help from several emergency crews and an air ambulance from Auburn. The park is located in Sacramento County, about three miles south of Highway 50. The Folsom Fire Department reports that on Sunday at around 4:41 pm, a call for help came into Sacramento Regional Fire about a solo motorized dirt bike accident in the park at 13300 White Rock Road. The male victim, in his 20's, was reportedly thrown from his bike and unconscious. Folsom Fire Battalion Chief Nick Lawlor told The Folsom Telegraph that crews from station 34 and medic crews from station 37 immediately responded. "The Captain, while leaving the station, recognized the severity of the possible injury when it was reported as an unconscious patient, and at that point he requested an air ambulance through our dispatch," explained Lawlor. "CALSTAR out of Auburn responded, so they launched their bird and were en route. The location of the patient was in the southeast side of the property so it was kind of remote, it took some time to get there, which was all the more important that the Captain had already started the air ambulance." Folsom Fire crews arrived on scene, assisted by crews from the Metropolitan Fire Department and California State Parks. While they waited for the air ambulance to arrive, medics were able to stabilize the victim, and Metro Fire crews helped set up a landing zone for CALSTAR. Because the accident happened in a more remote area of the park that was difficult to get to by foot and ambulance, Lawlor said it was a good call to use CALSTAR out of Auburn. "The challenges were that it was in a remote part of the park, extended time on scene to treat and stabilize the patient," said Lawlor. "But with CALSTAR and Folsom Fire department, and assistance from Metro Fire Department, the patient got the best care and was transported to an appropriate trauma facility." The patient was airlifted to Mercy San Juan, where he was reportedly in critical condition. Folsom Fire officials said this case highlights the importance of fast, coordinated response times, especially in remote locations where access can be limited. The park is not officially in Folsom city limits, but Folsom's new Station 34 was in fairly close proximity to the accident site, enabling crews from that station to have a fast response time.