A SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, Search & Rescue volunteer was on holiday weekend patrol when he was struck and killed by an ambulance Sunday afternoon.
24-year-old Christopher Meadows had just completed his Search and Rescue training and was due to be promoted to Medical Team Leader. He was also a full-time EMT for San Luis Ambulance. Before he was publicly identified, the sheriff department issued this press release:
A San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Dept. Search & Rescue (SAR)volunteer was killed at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreational area on Sunday afternoon when he was apparently struck by an ambulance responding to a first aid call.
Both the ambulance and the SAR member were responding to the same call. The SAR member was riding a 4-wheel drive ATV, used to patrol and assist State Park Rangers at the popular tourist location. The SAR member was assigned to the heavily trafficked recreational area as part of the normal holiday weekend deployment of Sheriff’s resources.
“I want to express my heartfelt sympathy and gratitude to the family of our deceased search and rescue member, who gave his life today trying to help someone in trouble. I also want to acknowledge the pain this must be causing the ambulance staff, who immediately tried to save their brothers life at the scene,”said San Luis Obispo Sheriff, Pat Hedges.
The California Highway Patrol will investigate the collision and will be lead agency in determining the facts surrounding the death.
The details of how the accident happened have not yet been released.
