Crews from Orting Valley Fire and Rescue responded with a marine rescue unit to a reported motorcyclist who had crashed into Voight Creek, east of Orting, just after 3:30 p.m. Friday.
The initial 9-1-1 call was dropped due to spotty cell service in the forested area. Pierce County FireComm Dispatch, the emergency dispatcher for public safety responders in east Pierce County, set about tracking the call.
“FireComm had to ping their cell phone to locate them,” said Orting Valley Firefighter Jake Weigley, incident commander and swiftwater team leader.
Once dispatch had pinpointed an approximate address, firefighters were sent to 217th Avenue East and Patterson Road East, where they were met by Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies and a witness to the accident. Weigley says the responders trekked roughly a quarter mile down a trail to an area known as Voight Creek Canyon.
Firefighters from East Pierce Fire and Rescue also responded, bringing their marine rescue unit as well. In all, 10 fire engines, medic units and support vehicles from the two fire districts responded to the incident.
The witness reported that the motorcyclist had struck a log and was thrown into the water. She led deputies to an area approximately 100 yards downstream from where the motorcyclist had gone into the water. He was found unresponsive and responders began CPR. Firefighter-paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene.
A chaplain was called to assist family members and friends who had arrived.
The sheriff’s office is investigating the cause of the crash.
