Two men were airlifted to a trauma center Wednesday afternoon following a serious UTV crash deep in the woods off Glendon Carthage Road, just outside of High Falls.
The crash happened around 4 p.m., when the side-by-side the men were riding struck a tree, ejecting both of them. Officials say the crash occurred nearly a mile into the woods, making access difficult for first responders.
Crews from High Falls Fire & Rescue responded to the scene, deploying their brand-new UTV — which is less than two months old — for the first time. The specialized vehicle allowed responders to reach the injured men through rough terrain that would have otherwise been inaccessible. Both patients were able to be transported out of the woods in the UTV at the same time, highlighting the unit’s capability during its first real-world use.
The department’s fire district is heavily wooded and encompasses the entire Moore County section of the Deep River, making off-road capabilities an essential part of their rescue operations.
Due to the remote location of the crash, it took rescuers nearly an hour to reach the victims, stabilize them, and transport them to a designated helicopter landing zone at High Falls Mennonite Church at the intersection of Goldston Road and Siler City Glendon Road.
Two separate helicopters were used to airlift the men from the church ball field. Their conditions have not been publicly released.
