Skip to Main Content
Maryland State Police News Release

State Police Helicopter Hoists Injured Child From Sugarloaf Mountain

(Dickerson, MD) – Sunday, January 12, 2020 at approximately 14:25 pm EST, the Maryland State Police (MSP) Duty Officer, stationed within the Systems Communications Center (SYSCOM) in Baltimore, MD received a request for assistance from Frederick County Emergency Services Center to hoist a ten-year-old child who fell and sustained injuries after losing their footing on the rocks near the peak of Sugarloaf Mountain.

Maryland State Police Trooper 3, based in Frederick, Maryland was dispatched after rescue personnel encountered treacherous and remote conditions with high winds for extraction. The helicopter crew configured Trooper 3 for an aerial hoist operation and arrived overhead. The pilots maneuvered the AW-139 helicopter into position approximately 85 feet above the rocky embankment. A Maryland State Trooper/Rescue Technician was lowered to the scene to begin the preparation of the patient for the hoist evolution.

After the patient was assessed and placed into the secure hoisting device, both the patient and State Trooper/Rescue Technician were hoisted up to the helicopter. Trooper 3 performed the 85-foot hoist extraction of the patient within 10 minutes of arriving on scene. Once the patient was secured inside the aircraft, Trooper 3 transitioned to its medevac role and transported the patient to the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington D.C. for evaluation and treatment.

The Maryland State Police Aviation Command has served Maryland citizens since 1970, and operates a fleet of ten helicopters from seven bases throughout Maryland on a 24/7/365 basis. Missions include medevac, law enforcement, search & rescue, homeland security, and disaster assessment.  The success of rescues performed by the Aviation Command depends a great deal on the cooperative efforts of local fire, rescue and EMS law enforcement agencies. The Maryland State Police Aviation Command would like to remind Marylanders to exercise caution while enjoying outdoor activities during these brief breaks in the winter weather.

CONTACT:    Lieutenant Nathan Wheelock, Commander

Helicopter Field Operations

410-238-5804

or

Lance Wood

Deputy Director of Aviation

410-238-5802

 

 


doit-ewspw-W02