My brother, Tom, was riding his new Husky 350 at the park between 9:30AM and 11:30AM and didn't come home for lunch. His wife and daughter went up to the park about 2pm and called my son TJ. He told them to go inform the rangers. TJ called Greg (also my son), Topper (my husband), Jason Gonzales, Danny Bawdon, Jake Mahler while Greg called Brad Reichers, John Montes, Trevor Guerra, Harry Tapley, Kelley Ghione, and Austin Underwood. Kathy Hensley who was at the park also volunteered. When I was told he was missing, I called the park about 2:30PM and told the park aid that he likes to ride the troll trails and the Renz.
Sgt. Ranger Scott Struckman started the search with Chris Silverberg, District Special Event Coordinator, and Ranger Adam Lucero on bikes while he was in a side-by-side. They started in the Renz. Off duty riding rangers Eric Hanson and Jesse Norton were called in and Kyle McClaflin, park employee, rode with them. They headed for the troll trails. It took most of the people that were called about an hour to get to the park. All had come and got radios along with areas to search by about 4pm from Jen Grady, an off duty ranger that was called in by Scott Struckman.
While I was sitting at the entrance of the park, to point the volunteers to the HHORA building where the command center was set up, I spoke with Wes Gray, Dist. Natural Resource Manager. I told him that Tom liked to ride the area at the end of North Canyon, so Wes took a crew of about three of his employees and walked that area. I don't ride anymore, so I jus talked with park visitors to see if any had seen him and relayed information to Tom's wife and daughter. Carla Bawdon was with me supporting the effort.
Honestly I thought that everything was moving too slowly, but I soon realized that slowing down to have a good plan was actually saving time in finding Tom. Ranger Jen Grady and Sgt. Scott Struckman were fantastic. They had great training and showed areas to search, gave each team a radio and instructions on how to report where he was found so they would have G.P.S. coordinates. They called for CHP air support. They even had someone trying to locate Tom's cell phone and satellite emergency device. Eddie Gauracha, Park Superintendent, was observing and he should be very proud of all the park staff's performance.
Tom was found by Trevor and Kathy on Mystic trail about 5:30PM. He had to have been there, without water, for at least six hours. His water had leaked out on the ground. He was sitting in the shade and his bike was on its stand. He said that he had worked to get the bike back on the trail after going off and then felt his heart racing. He did have heart medication and took it, but then realized he had suffered a stroke. When they found him he had slurred speech and couldn't use his right arm. He had his phone and device but was unable to get to them and they were turned off. Ranger Jen Grady took the AMR paramedic to him ASAP. The CHP helicopter refueled and then came back to lift him out of the steep terrain. They landed on the TT track and the Medical helicopter landed to pick him up. He is home now doing well. His speech is back and is doing physical therapy for his hand.
THANK YOU everyone at the park and all the volunteers that came to help. This was great TEAMWORK!
I LOVE HOLLISTER HILLS S.V.R.A.
Sincerely,
Margie Ghione