Vehicle rollover leads to helicopter rescue on July 4

The Pitkin County Sheriff's Office was notified of an accident in the area of Montezuma Basin Road on July 4.

According to a Facebook post from Mountain Rescue Aspen, Aspen Fire Protection District personnel proceeded to the area. Mountain Rescue Aspen mobilized a rescue effort with equipment and teams at the CB Cameron Rescue Center in Aspen. Rescuers then received a second message from a Garmin inReach device that confirmed a vehicle rollover with one injured patient.

Responders arrived and found the patient and vehicle, which had rolled approximately 130 feet into the river basin. Aspen Fire EMTs, Aspen Ambulance Paramedics, and Mountain Rescue Aspen Volunteers stabilized the patient (who was the only person in the vehicle).

Care Flight of the Rockies sent a flight crew, but they could not land because of the mountainous terrain, so rescuers determined they would need to do a long-line rescue.

A blackhawk helicopter from the Colorado Air National Guard's High Altitude Aviation Training Site team responded and retrieved the patient, who was then transported to the Pitkin County Airport.

Aspen Ambulance District personnel met them there are took the patient to Aspen Valley Hospital for further evaluation and care.

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