Portland father, teen daughter seriously injured in snowmobile crash into tree off Century Drive SW of Bend

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) --  A cellphone's automated crash notification and a witness report brought rescuers to the scene of a snowmobile crash into a tree off Century Drive on Thursday that seriously injured a Portland man and his 14-year-old daughter, Deschutes County sheriff's deputies said.

Deschutes County 911 dispatchers were contacted around 10:15 a.m. Thursday by a third-party monitoring service that had received an automated crash notification from a cellphone application belonging to a snowmobile crash victim, deputies said.

Moments later, a second call was placed to 911 by a witness, reporting that two people had suffered significant injuries after crashing a snowmobile into a tree.

Utilizing electronic data from the crash notification service and information provided by the witness, DCSO Search and Rescue volunteers were deployed to the scene crash scene, along Snowmobile Trail 25 near milepost 17.5 on Century Drive.

SAR teams located a 51-year-old man and his 14-year-old daughter, both from Portland, who had sustained serious injuries while riding a rental snowmobile. The sheriff's office did not release their names.

SAR medics quickly stabilized both patients and requested an air ambulance for transport. AirLink was dispatched to assist.

Using the DCSO Search and Rescue "Snow-Bulance," the injured father and daughter were taken to a waiting Bend Fire & Rescue ambulance. The Portland man was then flown by AirLink to St. Charles Bend, while his daughter was taken by Bend Fire ambulance to the hospital.

"This incident highlights the importance of emergency notification technology and the rapid response capabilities of our Search and Rescue teams," said Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp.

"Our SAR volunteers, 911 dispatchers and emergency medical partners worked seamlessly to ensure this family received the urgent care they needed," he said. "Most importantly, when renting snowmobiles or other motorized recreational vehicles, always get proper use instructions and drive within your capabilities and experience."

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office reminded outdoor enthusiasts to always exercise caution when recreating in the backcountry, carry emergency communication devices when possible, share your routes with others, and dress accordingly.