UPDATE: From Sandra Earp Kercher and Terri Klemetson of KMUD (Thanks both of you for the correction) it wasn’t Calfire, it was our local volunteer fire department’s.  Sandra said, “The responding depts were-Alderpoint Fire(first at scene), Palo Verde Fire, and Garberville Fire(provided jaws).” Terri has a great piece about the dog getting help from the neighbor and the volunteers getting Heberlein out.   http://archive.kmud.org/ see tonight’s first story. Also, for folks concerned, the dog was checked out at the Garberville Vet and held until a family member could retrieve it.

CHP Press Release:

On the morning of March 22, 2012, 73 year old Donald Mark Heberlein, Jr. of Alderpoint, California was the driver and solo occupant of a 1991 GMC Jimmy traveling southbound on Bell Springs Road, north of Jewitt Road in southern Humboldt County.  Due to reasons still under investigation, Heberlein’s vehicle exited the east roadway edge at a curve in the roadway and collided into a tree where his vehicle came to rest.  Heberlein was extracted from his vehicle by Calfire personnel and then transported by air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with major injuries.  DUI is not believed to be a factor in this collision.  The California Highway Patrol Garberville Area is investigating this collision.