Idaho Man Crashes ATV Near Emergency Exercise

May 07--BOISE COUNTY -- A "twist of fate," as the Boise County Sheriff's Office called it, led to prompt aid of a 57-year-old Fruitland man who crashed his ATV this past weekend.

Ronald Reggie Newsom was in serious condition Tuesday afternoon at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise with unknown injuries after the wreck, which happened Sunday morning.

Officials said Newsom was with four other adult males riding near Hawley Mountain Road, about one mile from Harris Creek Road. A friend riding with the injured man said Newsom went off the side of the road and was ejected from the ATV after the vehicle flipped.

Here's where that "twist" came in:

Placerville fire and emergency crews were training with a Life Flight crew and a helicopter from Saint Alphonsus about a mile away from the accident scene -- for backcountry medical extractions and emergency care.

It was a discovery that the friend who described the accident -- and reported to Boise County sheriff's dispatch -- made when he traveled back to his vehicle on Harris Creek Road. In short order, two Life Flight paramedics were transported to the accident scene and tended to Newsom. He was then airlifted to Saint Al's.

Boise County officials said they were still investigating the wreck on Tuesday afternoon.

Sean Deter: 377-6450; Twitter: IDS_Deter

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