June was recently declared “Search & Rescue Month” by the governor of Oregon, and with good reason. With Oregon’s summer weather, more people head out to the rivers and trails – but sometimes aren’t prepared for the early summer conditions. Lane County Search & Rescue (SAR) deputies and volunteers stayed busy helping out.  On June 13th, patrol deputies responded to a vehicle crash into Cottage Grove Lake along London Road, south of Cottage Grove. Deputies were unable to find a vehicle but found signs of a crash. The SAR Dive Team responded and began searching the murky water in the dark. After an hour of methodical searching, they located the vehicle fully submerged but unoccupied. They continued their search, and thankfully located the driver on shore, unconscious but otherwise unscathed. Deputies determined the driver had fallen asleep, resulting in the crash. The driver was returned home, and the Dive Team assisted with the removal of the vehicle from the water by a tow company.  On June 17th, four people floating the Willamette River lost their inner tubes south of Springfield and became stranded on the bank. A Marine Patrol deputy responded and determined it would be best to rescue them by land. SAR volunteers escorted most of the involved out and carried one person out to a waiting ambulance due to a medical condition.  On June 18th, SAR responded to assist an elderly male who fell at Spirit Falls, west of Oakridge. He was head-first in a rocky area and may have been there for several days before other hikers discovered him. LifeFlight responded along with medics. Once SAR extricated him, medics provided immediate medical care and transported him to an area hospital.  On June 24th, SAR volunteers responded to Devil’s Canyon north of Oakridge to assist motorists with vehicle issues in an area too rugged for a tow service. They were able to start the vehicle and escort them out of the area.  On June 26th, SAR responded to Terwilliger Hot Springs to assist Oakridge Fire Department with a subject who needed to be carried out of the hot springs to a waiting ambulance for transport to an area hospital.  SAR volunteers assisted with other cases and attended several trainings in addition to these major calls.  Nearly every week, Lane County Sheriff's Search & Rescue volunteers assist our residents and visitors in all types of environments. Learn more about our Search & Rescue program or donate to their work at: www.lanecounty.org/government/county_departments/sheriff_s_office/volunteers/search_and_rescue