MAN DIES WHILE BIKING ON SEDONA TRAIL WITH TWO SONS

ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON, YCSO RECEIVED A CALL FROM SEDONA FIRE THAT A 53-YEAR-OLD MALE SUBJECT WAS NOT BREATHING ON A TRAIL NEAR DEVILS BRIDGE IN SEDONA. WHILE ENROUTE, DEPUTIES CONTACTED VERDE SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR) TO ASSIST SEDONA FIRE. 

SEDONA FIRE WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE MAN FROM THE DRY CREEK VISTA TRAIL HEAD IN A UTV. THE MAN’S TWO SONS, AGES 14 AND 15, WERE WITH HIM AS WELL. THEY REPORTED THAT THEIR FATHER WAS COMPLAINING OF CHEST PAINS ABOUT A HALF MILE BEFORE HE FELL OFF HIS BIKE AND STOPPED BREATHING.

SOON AFTER DEPUTIES ARRIVED, THE MALE WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED.  THE TWO SONS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE TRAIL HEAD BY SEDONA FIRE, AND THE FATHER WAS RECOVERED BY THE VERDE SAR TEAM.

THE BOYS WERE VISITING FROM UTAH BUT HAD AN UNCLE IN THE PHOENIX AREA THAT DEPUTIES WERE ABLE TO CONTACT UNTIL THEIR MOTHER COULD GET TO PRESCOTT. THE NAME OF THE DECEASED HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED.

THREE OF THE DEPUTIES, IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THE BOYS WERE NOT ALONE DURING THE TRAGIC TIME, TOOK THEM TO A LOCAL RESTAURANT FOR PIZZA AND WAITED WITH THEM UNTIL THEIR UNCLE ARRIVED.