High-Angle Rescue Near Estacada Leads to Deliverance and Arrest

A man fell almost 200 feet after an embankment collapsed.

Clackamas County Sheriff's Deputy Emile Burley captured photos of rescue personnel on the scene, actively engaged in this rescue effort east of Estacada

(ESTADCADA, Ore.) - An ambulance crew was flagged down on State Hwy 224 east of Estacada Monday at Mile Post 24, by a man who said his friend had fallen from a 90' cliff along the Clackamas River. Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Spokesman Jim Strovink, says the man flagging down the ambulance just before 6:00 PM Monday evening, had been hiking with a companion from the Salem area.

As it turns out, 20-year old Nicholas Harris of Salem, who sought help for his fallen friend, had an existing arrest warrant for theft in Salem, and his contact with police to help save his friend led to his own arrest.

Strovink says that as Nicholas Harris and 27-year old Danny Russell Crane, of Redmond were negotiating the side of a steep embankment to access the Clackamas River, the earth collapsed beneath their feet.

"This caused Danny Crane to tumble uncontrollably down the steep embankment an estimated 200 feet, where Crane finally came to rest injured, conscious and breathing."

After arriving on scene, Clackamas Fire District #1 high angle rope technicians negotiated the emergency medical response and attended to the immediate medical needs of this patient.

Crane was removed from this difficult location and air lifted by Life Flight to Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital. He was describing neck, shoulder and abdominal pain injuries to attending medical personnel on the scene.

Nicholas Harris was checked by authorities at the scene, and was determined to have an outstanding warrant for theft issued by the Salem Police Department.

Harris was arrested at the scene, transported to the Clackamas County Jail and lodged for the existing theft warrant issued in Marion County.

Strovink says it is anticipated Nicholas Harris will be released from the Clackamas County Jail shortly due to overcrowding issues.