Maryland State Police Aviation Command Performs Aerial Hoist Rescue For Injured Person In Allegany County

(LITTLE ORLEANS, MD) – Maryland State Police Aviation Command performed an aerial hoist rescue for an injured biker Friday afternoon in Allegany County. 

Around 3:49 p.m. on Friday, rescue personnel from Allegany County, Maryland, were dispatched to a remote area on the C&O Canal for an injured person involved in a bicycle accident. Due to the victim’s remote location, extended extrication time, and the victim’s injuries, the Maryland State Police Aviation Command was requested to perform an aerial hoist rescue. Trooper 5, the Maryland State Police Helicopter based out of Cumberland, Maryland, responded to the scene. 

Local emergency medical services and rescue personnel maintained patient care on the ground and assisted with the packaging of the patient. A Trooper/Rescue Technician was then lowered down to the scene into a clearing, where the injured person was prepared for an aerial extrication via a patient extrication platform device. The pilots of Trooper 5 hovered over the wooded area and successfully hoisted the victim. 

Once the patient was hoisted safely to the aircraft, the flight crew transitioned directly into a medical evacuation role, transporting the victim directly to a local hospital for treatment of their injuries. The flight crew of Trooper 5 utilized the AgustaWestland AW-139 helicopter to perform the rescue.

The MSPAC has served since 1970 and operates a fleet of 10 AW139 helicopters from seven bases in Maryland. Each aircraft provides round-the-clock coverage to Maryland residents and visitors. The agency’s missions include medevac, law enforcement, search and rescue, homeland security and disaster assessment. The success of the missions relies heavily on the cooperative efforts of local fire, rescue, EMS, law enforcement agencies and partner agencies.

                                                                                                                                          ###

CONTACT: First Sergeant Jeffrey Leppert, (301) 777-8400

Maryland State Police Aviation Command - Cumberland Section