HOPLAND >> Passersby and fire personnel rescued a man whose pickup crashed Tuesday into a ravine off the side of Highway 175 about eight miles from Hopland, said Hopland assistant fire chief Mitch Franklin.
The Hopland Fire Department arrived at the scene of the crash at around 1 p.m. and found the man had already been pulled from the vehicle by passersby, Franklin said. The pickup was “engulfed” in flames and had tumbled into one of nine other vehicles that had previously crashed or been pushed down the steep embankment, he said.
The man was lifted by helicopter a short distance to a safe location and then transported to a hospital in Santa Rosa, Franklin said. He had suffered only bruises and cuts but was being held overnight for observation, he said.
Franklin did not know the identity of the man, who he estimated to be about 40 years old. Authorities continue to investigate the accident.
Cal Fire deployed helicopters to douse the flames from the air and prevent them fire from spreading. Crews were able to quickly extinguish the small blaze. Traffic was stopped in both directions during the rescue operation.
Responders included Hopland Fire Department, Cal Fire, Reach, VeriHealth and the California Highway Patrol.
