Grays Harbor Fire District 10 and the Aberdeen Fire Department responded Saturday afternoon to a major wreck on Wishkah Road involving a number of motorcyclists.

Three were injured, one so severely they were airlifted from the scene for advanced trauma care by Life Flight Network.

“So the call came in at 2:02 p.m.,” said AFD Fire Chief Dave Golding. “We got reports of multiple injuries.”

The crash occurred on milepost 16 of Wishkah Road, north of Aberdeen. The crash occurred in District 10’s area of responsibility, Golding said, but Aberdeen contractually backs up District 10 with medical support. The afternoon was already a busy one for AFD, Golding said, with another medical call coming in at the same time.

“This came in — we basically got two calls at the same time. We had to divide and conquer, if you will,” Golding said. “We sent some units up to Wishkah and the rest to the cardiac arrest.”

District 10 personnel were first on scene, assessing and providing first aid for injuries received from the crash, Golding said.

“Based on initial reports of the patients’ condition, crews initiated Life Flight,” Golding said. “This type of call highlights the close working relationship with our neighboring districts. This shows how they’re able to get on scene and initiate care prior to our arrival.”

The two motorcyclists with minor injuries refused transport, Golding said, while medics prepared the critically injured patient for transport.

“As they were stabilizing the patient and getting them ready for transport, part of the Wishkah crew went down and set up the (landing zone),” Golding said. “It was a field just south of the accident scene.”

The patient was airlifted out at 3:04 p.m., Golding said, adding the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident.

Grays Harbor County and the surrounding area has seen a number of high-profile motorcycle crashes lately, some fatal. Golding urged all drivers to drive carefully and for motorcyclists, like those involved in the crash Saturday, to wear helmets while operating their bikes. It’s unknown if these riders were connected to Hog Wild, the motorcycle rally that took place over the weekend in Ocean Shores, said Golding.

Washington State Patrol reinforced its presence in the region over the weekend, said Trooper Katherine Weatherwax. While riders involved in Hog Wild are generally respectful, Weatherwax said, there were several instances of motorcycles fleeing, some over 100 miles per hour, as well as cases of motorcycles being involved in stops or crashes on state highways in the region over the weekend.

Over the weekend between July 28-30 in Hoquiam, there were six crashes, nine driving under the influence cases, and 302 total stops, Weatherwax said.

Contact Senior Reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@thedailyworld.com.