Chopper called in for man down

BLUE RIVER: Police and  medical teams responded to the report of a male down with blood all over his face near the Blue River Reservoir last Wednesday. According to Oregon State Police reports, Thomas Burkhard, 55, of Blue River was found unconscious on spur road about 1/4 mile up the Blue River Reservoir Road from Hwy. 126.

Personnel from the Upper McKenzie Fire District, a Life Flight helicopter and two state troopers  all responded to the scene around 2:30 p.m. Police reported that when they arrived on the scene the patient was only coherent enough to state that he had eaten mushrooms. They also observed injuries consistent with a fall that included cuts to his knees, hands and head.

A vehicle associated with Bur-hard was found nearby but police said there were no signs of it being involved in a crash.

Image: A LifeFlight helicopter landed on the saddle dam of the Blue River Reservoir to ferry a patient to the RiverBend hospital.