Four seriously Injured in Little River afternoon wreck; First responders snag missing dog by its leash at twilight.

In second crash on Labor Day, truck and trailer go off road and possibly into McGuire’s Pond on HIghway 20

Four Injured in Labor Day Crash on Little River Airport Road; Family Dog Missing

Four people sustained serious injuries and were airlifted to medical facilities on Labor Day after their vehicle veered off Little River Airport Road and collided with a tree, according to the California Highway Patrol. Amid the chaos, the family’s dog—a sable or black and white medium sized shepherd-husky mix—fled the scene in fear, disappearing into the nearby forest with a long leash trailing behind. Many people including volunteer firefighters and residents along the road looked for the animal and finally caught it by its leash.

The crash was reported at 4:24.

Only one passenger managed to escape the wreckage before emergency crews arrived. Nearby residents who witnessed the crash quickly called for help, cleared debris from the road, and assisted the injured—a visiting couple from Texas and their local relatives.

The crash happened 2 miles north of State Route 1, the CHP said.

Two people were immediately taken by helicopters that landed at the nearby airport. Two other people were transported to Adventist Health Mendocino Coast Hospital, then flown out from there. 

There was no further information available from the CHP about the crash.  Unreliable and likely inaccurate scanner reports were repeated by other media. The CHP will have more information on the crash on Tuesday. 

A large contingent of volunteer firefighters from the Mendocino Fire Department, the Albion Little River Fire Department and other rescuers participated in the difficult rescue. Paramedics were able to stabilize all the victims. Four different three-person crews from Reach,  the company that maintains the helicopter fleet in Northern California, were able to get to the scene quickly, with two Mendo/Sonoma crews responding and  two crews from as far away as Butte County responded.  There were at least three other transports  on Labor Day involving helicopters but no further info was available from Reach

No one was injured in a dramatic crash on Highway 20 west of Fort Bragg, near the headwaters of the Noyo River. According to a California Highway Patrol log, a truck towing a trailer veered off the road and plunged into McGuire’s Pond. The incident may have been triggered by a second vehicle—a BMW—that reportedly did not stop at the scene.

A dispatcher later clarified that the truck may not have entered the pond itself, but instead landed in the gulch below, partially submerged in water.