On Wednesday evening, March 5th, U.S. Coast Guard Air Station North Bend assisted multiple agencies, including Lane County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue, local police and fire departments and the Oregon State Police after the vehicle of a 71 year old woman crashed into the McKenzie River, east of Springfield, Oregon at about 8:00pm.
Upon first responders arrival, the situation quickly became a complicated high water rescue in darkness of a person in a vehicle stuck on a rock ledge in the middle of the McKenzie River.
After deputies deployed a drone to get a better view of the vehicle and occupant who was pinned in the car, it was determined that local police and fire departments would be unable to safely access her due to the swift water.
Sheriff’s Search & Rescue began working on plans to set a line across the river for a rescue swimmer, and also contacted the U.S. Coast Guard for a helicopter after it was determined that a direct hoist was selected as the best option.
U.S. Coast Guard Air Station North Bend was dispatched with a rescue swimmer arriving on scene at 11:00pm and a rescue swimmer was deployed and lowered onto the vehicle.
The 71 year old woman driver was secured and safely hoisted into the MH-65E Dolphin helicopter, transferred to EMS at the Eugene Airport, and transported to an area hospital.
Oregon State Police is investigating the cause of the crash.
