Bicyclist Airlifted After Accident in the McKinleyville Community Forest
Press release from Arcata Fire:
On Tuesday, April 16 at 3:27 P.M., the Arcata Fire District was dispatched to a medical rescue in the McKinleyville Community Forest, with closest access to the patient on the 2000 block of First Road.The first engine arrived on scene as well as Arcata/Mad River Ambulance’s team and a Chief officer with AFD’s off-road side-by-side to find that the patient was approximately one mile up the trail.Reach Air Ambulance [Photo used with permission from Southern Trinity Area Rescue]
Due to a boulder and tree blocking access to the trail for the side-by-side, two engine companies and the paramedic team set out on foot to find a woman who had fallen off of her mountain bike while riding one of the trails.
She was put in a traction splint and Reach 5 helicopter team was called to the scene, responding from the Redding area. When the helicopter landed on scene, the patient was flown to Redding to assess her injuries.
Arcata Fire District would like to thank Arcata Ambulance and Reach 5 for their assistance today and would also like to provide a reminder to the community to wear a helmet, always have a phone on you or a person with you in case of an emergency in a remote area.
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That’s gnarly. Hope she’s ok. Got a name?
Gnarly! Cool name for a chick. My name’s Maverick. You can call me Ricky!
“Gnarly” sounds a little “butch” but honestly out there. No surprises.
Someone was seriously injured and you are making jokes?
Yes my name is Andrew.
Signs need to be posted on all trails for bicyclists, “cell phone, roll cages & helmets mandatory.”
For walkers “cell phones & body condoms mandatory”.
Must have been one hell of a bicycle crash to have to be airlifted to Redding!😳 Hope she’s ok.🙏
She must have helicopter insurance?
If not, she is gonna wish she did.
I live at this trail access point.
Today, Arcata fire showed up with two folks, two prybars, and within 5 minutes were able to push the offending boulder out of the way and get their side by side up the trail.
Not that this is a good thing. The ridiculous train of quads, dirt-bikes, etc. that head up that trail access point (illegally as most are not plated) will now be joined by bigger vehicles like side by sides thanks to Arcata fire. All while hikers, equestrians, and bicyclists are being encouraged to use the new community forest.
Glad they were able to help the rider yesterday. I don’t understand why they were so quickly and easily able to move the boulder today, but not yesterday. Sure would be nice if they had replaced the boulder they moved.
Fewer illegal off road vehicles accessing the trails at the end of first should be a priority for Mckinleyville. Apparently it isn’t.
Motorcycles are allowed out there now
Pretty sure you’re wrong on that point. I’ve seen plenty touting the new community forest. I’ve seen nothing saying GDRC and MCKCSD etc. have now officially allowed what’s gone on for years. Tolerated, maybe. Openly condoned, no.
Either way, they’re certainly not allowed to ride on the public roads leading into the forest given almost all are ohv’s lacking plates, insurance, and registration. There’s zero off street parking at the trail head. Plus most just ride in from around the surrounding neighborhoods. Often way too fast, way too loud, way too late at night. All of which is a nuisance for folks living within the couple blocks surrounding the access point.
Given the increased foot, bike, and equestrian traffic at this trail access point (all of whom can use the public roadways legally to get there), it seems like a recipe for disaster to allow and encourage an increase in illegal OHV access at the same point.
It’s on mcsd web site
You ignored the larger point.
Also, nowhere in the MCSD info about the community forest does it say explicitly that OHV access is now allowed.
That’s incorrect. No motorized vehicles allowed
Why would they move the boulder the day AFTER the accident?
MCSD has zero money or staff to enforce the new rules
They have the phone number of the sheriff and CHP just like the rest of us.
You think the HCSO or the CHP would lift a finger when you call and tell them you saw an OHV in the forest?
You’re also ignoring my point.
How do the OHV’s get into the forest?
Via illegally using public roadways.
No motorized vehicles are allowed in the new McKinleyville Community Forest but as many have pointed out people have been trespassing and riding out there illegally for decades when it still belonged to Green Diamond so it won’t be easy to get people to respect the new rules. Horses, bicycles, and your feet are welcome and strongly encouraged. While you’re out there enjoying the new Community Forest you might want to give those motorized vehicle operators a friendly reminder they are no longer welcome. Happy Trails
On mcsd website
You’re quoting the north coast journal, sans link.
You keep saying it’s on the MCSD website.
Where?
Nice try Joe! That’s a quote from MCSD staff stating that the forest is known to be used by dirt bikers. She did not say they are allowed to be out there. In fact all motorized vehicles are prohibited
It can be pretty scary when you are hiking a trail and a bike blasts right by you with you barely having enough time to get out of the way.
If you’re on a horse, it can mean injury for the rider and the bicyclist. People don’t understand that a trained horse generally follows directions but its own impulse if caught by surprise. “No” and don’t kick are not commands a horse will ever understand.
I head off trail a little bit when I am hiking and horse(s) approach.
Better safe than sorry.😁
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-marci-overcome-her-spinal-injury
if you can help, please do