Jackson County Officers Rescue Dirt Bikers Stranded On St John’s Peak
JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — After receiving an alert through the Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon ECSO 911 Dispatch reporting a group of lost and stranded dirt bikers on John’s Peak outside of Jacksonville, Oregon, on Sunday night, an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) deputy with knowledge of the area from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) responded. The deputy located and rescued the group.
Jacksonville Dirt Bikers Rescued
Inclement weather and trail difficulty led to a group of dirt bikers getting lost. The riders called for help from ECSO 911 Dispatch after a bike broke down. They indicated that they had no food or water, weren’t dressed for the weather, and their cell phones were almost out of battery.
JCSO works closely with the Motorcycle Riders Association (M.R.A.) and regularly patrols the 1200 acres of OHV trails in the John’s Peak area.
An OHV deputy responded and quickly located the group, which was found cold and wet but otherwise unharmed. The group got a ride back to their family after being returned to a Patrol car at the Pair A Dice Ranch Road staging area. The dirt bikes were recovered from the trail the following day.
Police confirmed that the JCSO OHV program is funded through the Oregon All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Grant program, which raises funds through Oregon ATV user permit sales and a fuel tax. The JCSO reminds the public to stay safe and:
- Ride within your limits and know that winter conditions can quickly change trails.
- Tell someone where you expect to go and your estimated time of return.
- Have a plan, especially in unfamiliar terrain.
- If you need help, backtrack to a main road rather than pushing forward.
- Keep a fully charged cell phone with you and understand where there is no cell reception.
Sources & References
- Press release from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office
- https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/ATV/…