Two airlifted after 11-hour rescue mission from 250-foot Pierce Co. cliff fall
Update, 11:29 a.m.: Crews were able to “access and stabilize” both patients, Cappetto wrote in an email to The News Tribune at 11:27 a.m.
“One was driven down to Wilkeson and airlifted by Airlift Northwest to a local hospital. The other was hoisted from the crash-site by Whidbey Island [Search and Rescue] and flown to a separate hospital,” Cappetto wrote. “A few SAR personnel remain on scene assisting EPFR with equipment recovery. Traffic was consulted about the collision investigation aspect. The vehicle is not able to be towed and will be left in place.”
One of the men is 30 years old, and one is 20, Cappetto said.
Update, 11:18 a.m.: Both men have been airlifted, Cappetto told The News Tribune in an email at 11:14 a.m.
Crews found the vehicle 250 feet down a cliff at 12:35 a.m., Cappetto wrote, then made contact with both victims at 1:13 a.m. Both men had been thrown from the vehicle and were trapped, with one of them stuck under the engine.
“I do not have exact times patients were hoisted up but it appears it wasn’t until after 4am,” Cappetto wrote.
The second victim was rescued at 7:30 a.m., Cappetto wrote, and both were airlifted around 8:30 a.m.
“It was nearly an 11-hour rescue mission,” Cappetto wrote.
Original story: Authorities are working to rescue two men who crashed 250 feet from the top of a mountain.
According to a news release from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received the call at about 10 p.m. Thursday night at T-Rex Falls in Wilkeson.
“[Search and Rescue] responded with a [Utility Task Vehicle] and located two subjects walking down the road who said they had been involved in a rollover collision near the top of the mountain where their vehicle slid off a cliff,” the release said. “They reported the driver/passenger were still inside the vehicle. SAR located the vehicle approximately 250ft down a cliff with two people trapped.”
PCSO requested more resources, the release said, including rope techs, volunteer search and rescue and “potentially military aviation assets.”
“It took us multiple hours before we were able to find the vehicle and then again, more multiple hours, setting up ropes course to rescue them,” PCSO spokesperson Carly Cappetto told The News Tribune. “It’s been an all-night rescue mission, very difficult, there’s no service, conditions are dangerous. We can’t even get air support in there and we’re trying to get them air lifted and trying to determine if we’re going to have to do ground transport, but their condition is pretty bad, so we’re trying to get air.”
Cappetto said she didn’t think the men were in “grave condition,” but their status is critical. She said one of the men was pinned and had to be extricated.
Fire agencies are working with patients on the side of the mountain, the release said, and trying to stabilize the patients before transporting them.
Cappetto said they are hoping to get air services from Whidbey Island, but did not know the details of which agency that would be.
“Rescue operations are still active, and patients are being stabilized until air assets can be determined,” the release said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This story was originally published June 26, 2026 at 8:10 AM with the headline "Two airlifted after 11-hour rescue mission from 250-foot Pierce Co. cliff fall."
