HOT SULPHUR SPRINGS, CO — A UTV rider in Colorado was hospitalized after losing control near a steep embankment and falling roughly 250 feet, prompting a nighttime rescue in the Hot Sulphur Springs area.
Grand County Search and Rescue said the rider went over the embankment late in the evening and needed to be reached by rope. Crews eventually lifted the injured person back to the trail before a medevac flight took over for further treatment.
Rescue call came in late at night near Hot Sulphur Springs
Grand County Search and Rescue said the call came in around 11:29 p.m. after the crash in the Hot Sulphur Springs area. The terrain made the scene difficult to access, so rescuers had to rely on rope systems instead of a direct approach.
Twelve Grand County Search and Rescue members responded, along with personnel from Grand County EMS, Union Pacific Railroad, Hot Sulphur Springs Fire and the Grand County Sheriff’s Office. The agency said the team used multiple rope setups to lower rescuers, equipment and medical supplies to the injured rider.
Crews lowered medical gear and first responders to the injured rider
Once on scene, rescuers worked to stabilize the injured UTV rider where the fall ended. Grand County Search and Rescue said the crew had to move carefully because of the steep embankment and the challenge of working in a low-light environment.
Bringing medical supplies to the patient was part of the effort, along with getting trained personnel down to the crash site. The agency said the coordinated response allowed the rider to receive attention before any attempt was made to bring the patient back up.
Another rope system lifted the patient back to the trail
After the rider was treated at the bottom of the embankment, rescuers switched to a second rope system to bring the patient and first responders back up to the trail. Grand County Search and Rescue said the lift had to be done carefully because of the height and terrain involved.
From there, the rider was transferred for medevac transport to additional medical care. Authorities did not release information about the rider’s condition after the rescue.
Search and rescue reminded riders to slow down and wear protective gear
Following the rescue, Grand County Search and Rescue urged UTV riders to understand their limits and watch their speed on difficult terrain. The agency also emphasized basic safety steps that can make a difference in a crash.
Those precautions included wearing a helmet and seat belt at all times. The reminder came as crews continued to highlight the risks that steep ground and fast travel can create for off-road riders, especially when an accident happens after dark.
Steep terrain and nighttime conditions made the response more difficult
The incident showed how quickly a ride can turn into a technical rescue when a vehicle leaves the trail and drops into rough ground. In this case, the fall of about 250 feet put the rider well below the trail and required a staged rope operation to reach the patient.
Grand County Search and Rescue described the response as a joint effort involving local rescue, EMS, fire and sheriff’s office personnel. The combination of agencies and specialized equipment was needed to move the rider safely out of the embankment and into a medical evacuation.
