Two Chehalis Tribal Police officers were injured and transported to area hospitals after the airboat they were traveling in during a rescue mission collided into a large tree on early Saturday morning.
In a social media post, the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office stated a family called 911 around 10:22 p.m. on Friday to request evacuation from their residence on Pearson Road in Oakville, which had been flooded and was surrounded by water. The family made arrangements with Chehalis Tribal Emergency Management for temporary shelter, but state Route 12 was closed because of flooding in the area, stated the release.
The Chehalis Tribal Police Department arranged to pick the family up on state Route 12 near Sickman Ford Road at a location at the edge of the floodwaters in an airboat so they could be transported. The Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit responded to Pearson Road and state Route 12 to launch the boat. Two adults and three children were removed from the residence. The sheriff’s office then planned to transport the family a short distance by vehicle to meet the Chehalis Tribal Police Department, stated the release.
At about 12:15 a.m. on Saturday, two Chehalis Tribal Police officers who were responding in an air boat were injured when the officers attempted to pick up the family in the Chehalis Police Department air boat. The boat struck a large tree on state Route 12 just west of Anderson road.
One officer sustained serious head injuries and was airlifted from Summit Pacific Hospital to Harborview Medical Center where he is in stable condition, stated the release. The second officer was ejected from the boat and was also injured. The officer was transported to Summit Pacific Hospital where he was treated and released.
The cause of the collision is not known at this time, but is under investigation.
