By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper.
Six people are recovering after a side-by-side rolled down a steep ravine near Southern Blvd. and 60th St. NW early Saturday, triggering a technical rope rescue that pulled them from terrain crews couldn’t reach on foot.
Rio Rancho Fire Rescue crews responded to reports of the rollover with multiple injured occupants, according to a release from the department. When crews arrived, they found the side-by-side had rolled all the way to the bottom of the ravine, a location too steep and remote for standard extrication. That triggered a call to the Rio Grande Basin Rescue Team, a specialized unit trained for high-angle rope rescues in exactly this kind of terrain.
One occupant managed to climb out on their own before crews arrived. The other five had to be lowered out using technical rope rescue systems, RRFR said. Several patients suffered serious injuries. Two were airlifted to UNM Hospital, while the rest were driven to hospitals by ground ambulance, with Sandoval County Fire Rescue assisting Rio Rancho crews on scene.
More details
- The rescue drew on Rio Rancho Fire Rescue, the Rio Grande Basin Rescue Team, Sandoval County Fire Rescue, law enforcement, air medical crews and emergency dispatchers.
- RRFR emphasized the response as an example of interagency coordination during a complex, high-risk rescue.
- No names, ages or conditions of the six occupants have been released.
- The cause of the rollover has not been disclosed.