Injured bicyclist airlifted at Annadel

An injured mountain biker was airlifted by helicopter out of Annadel State Park on Saturday afternoon after he crashed on a trail.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Department said it used the department rescue helicopter to locate the injured mountain biker, drop off a paramedic and then lift them both out of the woods using a long evacuation line.

The man was identified as Dan Kimble, 41, of Berkeley, who was being treated at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for serious injuries.

The man apparently crashed his bike on South Burma Trail, but emergency ground crews responding to a call for help had difficulty finding him in the thick trees and rolling hills.

The crew of the Sheriff's Department helicopter, Henry One, located the injured man in a remote area, but wasn't able to land. Officials said the paramedic was dropped off nearby and tended to the man's injuries while the flight officer prepared for a long-line evacuation.

Using the line and rescue basket, the injured man and paramedic were moved to a nearby field, where the helicopter landed and later airlifted the mountain biker to the hospital trauma center.

-- Bleys W. Rose