Paulina Lake snowmobile crash victim improves

A Washington state woman improved to good condition Tuesday at St. Charles Bend, two days after her snowmobile struck a tree Sunday at Paulina Lake, officials said.

Shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday, Deschutes County 911 received a call of an injured snowmobile rider at Paulina Lake near the Little Crater Campground entrance, said sheriff’s Sgt. Ronny Dozier, search and rescue operations manager.

The reporting party said Debbie Baldwin, 63, of Washougal, Wash. had struck a tree and was unconscious. La Pine Fire medics couldn’t reach the area due to the deep snow, Dozier said.

Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue was activated and a six-member snowmobile team including two SAR medics was dispatched to retrieve and transport Baldwin back to the 10-Mile Sno-Park, so the La Pine medics could take her to the Bend hospital.

Baldwin was listed in serious condition at St. Charles on Monday but had improved to good condition Tuesday morning, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Baldwin was wearing appropriate safety gear, the sergeant added.

Baldwin was attended to by U.S. Forest Service personnel and family members until the SAR unit arrived. The SAR team took Baldwin by ambu-sled to the sno-park and a waiting ambulance.

According to witnesses, Baldwin was trying to execute a side hill turn, accelerated and struck a group of trees on the downhill side of the hill.