Vancouver woman flown to hospital after falling during hike near Carson

A Coast Guard helicopter responded Sunday morning to the Wind River Canyon near Carson to hoist to safety a Vancouver woman who slipped and fell 30 feet down the river drainage.

Angel D. Vaillencourt, 29, was hiking in the Wind River drainage around 10 o’clock that morning, looking for the natural hot springs, according to the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office.

While climbing a bank, she slipped and fell about 30 feet, landing on her back.

Her hiking companion, 25-year-old Anthony Casario of Battle Ground, called 911 and told dispatchers that Vaillencourt was unconcious and bleeding from the head.

Skamania County emergency medical personnel and deputies arrived to find Vaillencourt conscious but seriously hurt.

Due to the difficult terrain, local officials contacted the Coast Guard in Warrenton, Ore., for help. Ambulance crews moved the woman to a clearing about 50 yards away. The air crew from the Coast Guard arrived at about 12:20 p.m.

The Coast Guard completed the 200-foot hoist operation by about 1:30 p.m., then flew Vaillencourt to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland. Her condition was unavailable Sunday evening.

The sheriff’s office said Vaillencourt told Coast Guard crew members she had used methamphetamine prior to her fall, and deputies arrested Casario on suspicion of criminal trespass and possession of drug paraphernalia.