On Friday North San Juan Fire Department was dispatched to a mine shaft accident on Bunker Hill, near Yuba River’s south fork canyon by the Highway 49 bridge. Battalion Chief Boyd Johnson says a man had fallen into what’s called a Coyote Hole which is an exploratory hole that miners had dug looking for gold many, many years ago.
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The man had been riding with family members and when he fell into the hole, one family member stayed with him, while another went for help. At that point the victim was conscious and alert.
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Johnson says they had voice contact with the victim and with a concerted effort they tried to pull him out.
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Johnson says in the end the victim was not physically able to put the harness on himself.
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The patient was taken to Sutter Roseville Hospital for treatment. The man and his family live in the North San Juan area.
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E Christina Dabis
Where was this fellow from, and was the land privately owned, or was it public land?