UTV Crash Near Twin Lakes Trailhead Sends Man to Hospital
By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, September 27th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
TWIN LAKES – (Release from the Baker County Sheriff’s Office) On September 25, 2022, at approximately 7:51 p.m., Baker County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch was notified of a side-by-side crash near the Twin Lakes Trailhead. The caller, who was not at the scene but was in touch with the involved parties by phone, relayed that one subject sustained head injuries.
Due to the remote location and terrain, Sheriff Ash activated the Baker County Search and Rescue Team at approximately 7:55 p.m. SAR volunteers deployed to the area, with one group traveling over Marble Creek via side-by-side and a second group traveling to the Twin Lakes Trailhead. Contact was made with the involved parties, Rex Kirkwood (46 yo), Jeremie Zemmer (45 yo), and Jordan Zemmer (22 yo), at approximately 9:50 p.m. Due to the steep terrain, the injured party, Kirkwood, was packaged in a litter and transported via side-by-side by SAR volunteers to the ambulance. The team was able to reach the ambulance at 12:52 a.m.
During the investigation, it was determined the side-by-side, operated by Kirkwood, was traveling cross-country when it rolled down a steep hillside. Both occupants, Kirkwood and Jeremie Zemmer, were ejected from the machine and were not wearing safety harnesses. The investigation is ongoing.
Baker County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Baker County Search and Rescue, Metro West
Ambulance, Powder River Rural Fire Chief Wes Morgan, and Life Flight.
