Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team Conducts 16-hour Rescue Operation of Hiker Who Fell Ill in Ventana Wilderness

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, along with CalFire and the Urban Search and

Rescue Team completed a nearly 16-hour rescue mission of a hiker who fell ill while hiking in the Ventana

Wilderness area.

Search and Rescue teams were notified at about 8:00 PM on Sunday December 29, 2024, of a 20-year-old

hiker who needed assistance and could not hike out on his own. Thanks to the assistance of other hikers in

the area, an SOS rescue signal was sent out and emergency notification was made to 9-1-1.

6 Monterey County Search and Rescue team members set out to search for the patient who was located

near Sykes Hot Springs. The patient was provided first aid and helicopter rescue assistance was made. Due

to weather conditions, helicopters were unable to assist.

Urban Search and Rescue team members joined in the rescue by foot. While returning, rescue teams became

stranded and unable to cross a river where water levels had risen. Rescue crews and the patient remained at

this location until daylight. Assistance was requested from the U.S. Coast Guard and a helicopter was

deployed to the area. Weather conditions prevented the Coast Guard helicopter from safely hoisting the

patient to safety.

Search and Rescue teams were able to get the patient across the river and continued to carry him out to a

waiting ambulance on Monday December 30, 2024, nearly 16 hours after this rescue operation began. The

rescue covered 16 miles of steep and rugged trails. Search and Rescue team members described this

operation as “physically exhausting” as rain began to fall early in the morning, worsening the already

difficult rescue conditions.

The patient was transported to a local hospital.

Comments

Fatal 3 Vehicle Accident Involving Wrong Way Driver on Highway 101 Outside of King City on January 10

A fatal multi-vehicle collision happened on Saturday night, January 10 at 9:51 p.m. on northbound Highway 101 outside of King City. According to the King City CHP a 2016 Toyota Tacoma driven by 65-year-old Paul Lee Cooper of Otis, Oregon was heading the wrong way going southbound in the northbound lanes south of Jolon Road, while a 2006 Toyota Corolla driven by 33-year-old Dinora Maribel Gomez of Salinas was heading northbound on Highway 101 south of Jolon Road in the #1 lane and a Honda Accord driven by 36-year-old Ignacio Sangerman of King City was also traveling northbound on Highway 101 south of Jolon Road but was in the #2 lane. Due to Cooper's level of impairment his vehicle went the wrong way on Highway 101 going directly into the path of Gomez' vehicle causing the rear of her car to crash with the front of the vehicle driven by Sangerman. Cooper was arrested, sustaining major injuries and was transported to Natividad Medical Center in Salinas where as of January 12 is...

Monterey County DA Releases Preliminary Information Concerning an Officer Involved Shooting Incident that Occurred Outside of Soledad on December 16

SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni on December 19 released preliminary information concerning the officer involved shooting (OIS) which occurred at about 1:20 a.m. outside the city of Soledad on December 16, 2025. Just before 1:00 a.m., Monterey County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Pina, who has been a peace officer for 10 years all with MCSO, and Deputy Blain Councilman, each in separate patrol cars, were dispatched to 32097 McCoy Road. A resident at the farm labor camp reported a suspicious individual with a handgun whose white Honda 4 door sedan was parked in space 18 at the complex. Before parking there, the suspect drove around and around, stopped in front of the reporting party’s (RP’s) truck, and got out. The RP could hear music. Deputy Pina drove the lead patrol car and arrived just after 1:20 a.m. His dashcam video, which does not record sound but which he installed on his own and at his own expense, depicts the following: He drove down ...

King City City Council Announces Selection of José Arreola as New City Manager

January 7, 2025-Following an extensive recruitment process, José Arreola has been selected by the King City City Council to be its next City Manager. Arreola will replace Steve Adams, who is retiring after serving in the position for the past 10 years. Arreola was selected from 31 applicants and 8 finalists for the position. The King City City Council will formally consider the proposed city manager contract at its meeting on Tuesday night, January 13. Arreola's first day on the job is scheduled to be February 23. José Arreola has a distinguished career of serving the community with a particular commitment to youth. He has worked for the City of Salinas for 12 years as their Community Safety Program Manager, Community Safety Administrator and Assistant to the City Manager. Among other responsibilities, Arreola has led several programs to eliminate gang violence which aligns well with the City of King’s efforts and priorities. Prior to that, Arreola worked as an Educa...

KRKC COUNTRY

Search This Blog