A mountain biker was airlifted from the Schultz Pass area after a fall on Sunday afternoon and was taken to Flagstaff Medical Center in critical condition.
She didn’t survive the injury.
The mountain biker later turned out to be Katie Wittekind. Wittekind is a graduate of Northern Arizona University and worked for the Northern Arizona Civil Service Benefits Trust for nearly 10 years as a wellness program manager.
On Sunday, she fell 15 to 20 feet off a ledge on the Schultz Creek Trail, landing on a jagged pile of broken rocks below. To reach her, Summit Fire men had to hike about a mile and a half along a trail, carrying her medical equipment on foot.
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Summit Fire Battalion Chief Torsten Palm said the first call came around 2 p.m.
according to please fund Wittekind, who was set up for her family, was celebrating Mother’s Day with her husband and son when the accident happened.
Wittekind died of his injuries in hospital later that day.
Due to problems with reception, dispatchers used not only traditional telephone calls but also text 911 systems to help first responders find patients.
Palm said Summit Engine 37 was the first to be dispatched to the scene, followed by 1st Flagstaff Fire Battalion. Additional resources from Guardian Medical Transport, Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, and Coconino County Sheriff’s Office were also dispatched to the trail because patient access was an issue.
“It was just a multi-agency response. We all train together and have great relationships, so everyone is doing great,” Palm said.
Having confirmed the patient’s condition and location, emergency responders requested a Guardian Medical Transport helicopter in hopes of transporting the patient on a mountain bike to a hospital as soon as possible.
“The crew ended up approaching the patient and carrying him to the landing zone,” Palm said. “It was about transportation time. We were supposed to get from the accident site to the hospital faster than ground transportation.
Despite the rescue results, Palm said text messaging proved to be an important tool for first responders who tried to contact Wittekind.
He said poor reception could pose a significant safety risk, especially in the Schultz Pass area.
“Sometimes you can send a text message even if your cell phone signal isn’t good,” Palm said.
Still, he stressed that hikers and mountain bikers should consider cell service before venturing out on the trails.
“Plan in case of an accident. Plan to get to a point, or have someone who can reach a point with call service call or text for help.” Mr Palm said.
Sierra Ferguson can be reached at sierra.ferguson@lee.net.
