ATV Accident Injures Pu`u Wa`awa`a Bird Sanctuary Worker

Hawai`i Fire Department crews were mobilized Monday afternoon to the aid of a bird sanctuary worker involved in an all-terrain vehicle accident in a remote area of North Kona.

The ATV the unidentified 21-year-old man was riding overturned about seven miles mauka of Highway 190 in the Pu`u Wa`awa`a Forest Bird Sanctuary.

Alerted to the emergency at about 2 p.m., ground crews in four-wheel-drive vehicles looked for the injured man assisted by aerial searches by both of the county’s rescue helicopters. The search was hampered by low clouds and fog in the area, a fire department spokesman said.

The man was finally located by the crew of Chopper  2, the county’s medivac helicopter, which treated him and transported him to North Hawaii Community Hospital.

The man was listed in stable condition with facial injuries.

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