By Jon Johnson
PIMA – A Pima man was airlifted to a Tucson hospital for treatment Saturday after rolling his Polaris UTV while attempting to perform some donuts for his passenger grandchildren. The children, a young boy and girl, were uninjured and left the area with their mother.
A slew of first responders descended upon the desert southwest of the Riverback area of Pima shortly after 3 p.m. to search for the injured outdoorsman. The area has miles of trails and is popular with off-road enthusiasts and for target shooting.
According to local law enforcement and a family member at the scene, the group had been target shooting in the area when the grandfather, Chad Larson, of Pima, decided to take a couple of the children for a ride in his Polaris UTV.
Larson allegedly told a family member that he was doing donuts at roughly 10 mph when the UTV rolled onto its side. Larson reportedly struck his head on the vehicle’s mirror, giving him a laceration near his ear and causing him to go unconscious. After regaining his senses, he also complained of lower back pain.
Due to the area’s remoteness and unfamiliarity, first responders from Pima, Thatcher, Safford, and Graham County assisted, including the Pima Fire Department, EMS, and Lifeline Ambulance.
A number of vehicles did not reach the scene, and some responders hiked the final distance. However, the Pima Rescue Truck and a couple of other vehicles arrived at the scene and provided care.
After wetting down the area, an AirEvac helicopter landed, and Larson was transported to the aircraft and flown from the scene. According to a family member and Sheriff’s Office Sergeant, Larson was believed to have been flown to a Tucson hospital for treatment.
Family members and first responders righted the UTV and reinstalled its windshield that had popped off. The vehicle then started, and it was driven out of the area without further incident.
