ST. GEORGE —A crash alert sent from an Apple Watch led first responders to a motorcyclist who fell approximately 150 feet off a cliff’s edge Saturday in Southern Utah.
Washington County Sheriff’s Sgt. Darrell Cashin said that the incident occurred around 10 a.m. Saturday morning when dispatch received a crash trigger from an Apple Watch in the south area of Warner Valley near the Arizona border.
Deputies were called to assess the validity of the call. As they approached the area, a call came in from a witness who reported seeing a man on a motorcycle go off a cliff.
Search and Rescue was activated, along with Hurricane Valley Fire Department, Life Flight and a DPS Star 9 helicopter responding to the scene in order to rescue the fallen male.
“Apparently he was on a motorcycle, he was up on a cliff edge — this is what I was told later — and he stopped and put his foot down and there was nothing there. And he went over,” Cashin said.
Cashin said the St. George motorcyclist fell approximately 40-50 feet and hit a ledge, which he and his motorcycle both hit.
He then fell another 80-100 feet down a “scree slope.”
Life Flight was unable to land due to the crash location. Unable to use a hoist, the high-angle rescue team set up ropes and crews began life-saving measures. It took emergency responders approximately four hours to get the man stabilized and into the Life Flight helicopter. He was then transported to St. George Regional Hospital in critical condition.
Cashin said the man was showing signs of neurological issues yesterday. He had no update on his current status.
This report is based on statements from police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
Photo Gallery
Emergency responders assist in the rescue of a fallen motorcyclist on Saturday morning, St. George, Utah, Feb. 4, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff's Sgt. Darrell Cashin, St. George News
Emergency responders assist in the rescue of a fallen motorcyclist on Saturday morning, St. George, Utah, Feb. 4, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff's Sgt. Darrell Cashin, St. George News
Emergency responders assist in the rescue of a fallen motorcyclist on Saturday morning, St. George, Utah, Feb. 4, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff's Sgt. Darrell Cashin, St. George News
Emergency responders assist in the rescue of a fallen motorcyclist on Saturday morning, St. George, Utah, Feb. 4, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff's Sgt. Darrell Cashin, St. George News
Emergency responders assist in the rescue of a fallen motorcyclist on Saturday morning, St. George, Utah, Feb. 4, 2023 | Photo courtesy of Washington County Sheriff's Sgt. Darrell Cashin, St. George News
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