By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER COUNTY – (Release from the Baker County Sheriff’s Office) On October 1, 2023, at approximately 6:59 a.m., Baker County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a 911 call regarding a hunter with a knee injury in the Dutchman Creek area. Dispatchers quickly determined the coordinates and dispatched a deputy to the location. The injured party was requesting assistance out of the road closure area.
Deputy Robb responded and upon arrival, encountered a fallen tree that blocked the road. Sheriff Ash and Lt. Downing responded with a chainsaw and side-by-side equipped for patient transport. After removing the fallen tree, they reached the injured hunter, identified as Michael Josh of Eugene, Oregon, and his son at approximately 2:51 p.m. Josh and his son had packed into the area with llamas for a seven-day hunting trip. Josh was loaded in the rear compartment of the side-by-side and transported back to his vehicle near the USFS 39 Road.
The side-by-side utilized in this rescue was purchased using grant funds from the Oregon State Parks ATV Program. Baker County Search and Rescue had the machine locally modified to transport injured patients.