Valencia County first responders airlift one after two UTV crashes

Valencia County first responders were called to two separate UTV crashes on June 1, and one person suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to a hospital for treatment.

The incidents put a spotlight on the county’s off-road rescue demands, where rough terrain can turn a crash into a fast-moving medical emergency. The Valencia County Fire Department says it operates 8 fire stations, 7 transport-capable rescue ambulances, a mobile command center and 2 UTVs, equipment built for reaching patients in areas where standard rigs cannot easily go.

Officials say the department runs about 550 calls a month, a workload that includes both medical response and specialized rescue. The county’s wildland team, led by Captain Rob Barr and based out of Station 22, also has access to UTVs, brush trucks and other specialized equipment, giving crews another layer of capability when crashes happen far from paved roads.

Assistant Chief Jaime Gonzales and other department officials describe the fire department’s mission as professional, prepared and effective emergency response, a standard that becomes especially important when multiple off-road incidents happen in one day. In a county where UTVs are used for work, recreation and access to remote areas, the fire department’s rescue and EMS resources often have to move quickly from station to scene.

The two crashes on the same day showed how vulnerable riders can be when speed, terrain and distance from help combine. With one patient airlifted in critical condition, the response required more than a routine ambulance run. It called for the kind of coordination that the Valencia County Fire Department’s mobile command center and specialized rescue units are designed to support.

The incidents also reinforced why Station 22 and the county’s wildland team matter beyond fire season. Their training and equipment help crews respond when a UTV rollover or collision happens deep in rugged country, where every minute can affect the outcome. In Valencia County, off-road travel can mean recreation one moment and a major rescue the next.