Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office press release:

On Monday, December 11, 2017 at about 8:32 p.m., the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) received a report that a Federal Express (FedEx) delivery driver was missing and was last seen around 3:30 p.m. on the same day after making a delivery in the Happy Camp area.

An investigation by SCSO indicated the missing man, Mr. Jesse James Flagg, 26, of Redding, California did not return home after the delivery in Happy Camp and he failed to make at least one other delivery along the SR 96 highway.

26 year old Jesse James Flagg of Redding | SCSO.

After ground and roadway searches were conducted along the SR 96 corridor with negative results, the SCSO, CHP, and United States Forest Service (USFS) units initiated a large-scale search early on December 12, 2017, with the primary effort focused on the SR 96 corridor between Happy Camp and Yreka, about 70 road miles.
The CHP’s Northern Division also assigned a CHP helicopter (H-16) to search the SR 96 highway and surrounding areas for the missing driver commencing early morning on December 12, 2017.

On Tuesday, December 12, at about 10:10 a.m., SCSO received a report that the H-16 helicopter crew spotted tire marks on SR 96 between milepost markers 48.7 and 49.0. A USFS unit responded to the area and later spotted what appeared to be the missing 2017 Nissan delivery van about 20 feet down a steep embankment.

The vehicle was immobilized by trees and debris over the embankment on SR 96 between Cave Mountain and China Point. USFS, CHP, SCSO and fire rescue units responded and Mr. Flagg was found at the scene alive and responsive.

According to later reports, Mr. Flagg was able to extricate himself from his vehicle but fell or slid down the embankment about 60 feet where he was stranded until rescued by first responders. He was treated, and transported to a Medford, Oregon hospital via helicopter for further examination and treatment.

According to Sheriff Jon Lopey, “We were very concerned about Mr. Flagg’s welfare and we are relieved he was found alive and he is now receiving the care he needs.I would like to take this opportunity to commend the involved SCSO, USFS, CHP ground and air units, and fire rescue personnel that played pivotal roles in the search and rescue of Mr. Flagg. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Flagg and his family and we hope he is able to return home soon. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the SCSO’s 24-hour Dispatch Center at (530) 841-2900.”