Some very lucky bikers: Marin Independent Journal Bikers skid off cliff, but are rescued By Gary Klien IJ reporter Thursday, August 05, 2004 - Two motorcyclists were injured last night after losing control of their cycles and going off a steep cliff in West Marin, police and firefighters said. "These are two lucky individuals," said county fire Capt. Tom Nunes. The crash was reported at 6:51 p.m. on Shoreline Highway, according to the California Highway Patrol. The motorcycles were heading north when they lost control on "Borello's Curve," which Nunes described as a well-known bend in the road about four miles north of Point Reyes. The motorcycles skidded off the highway and went down a nearly vertical cliff. One of the riders was able to block his fall and scramble back up to the road, but the other plunged 35 feet down and slammed into a tree, breaking a thigh bone. "He hit a four-inch branch on the tree and broke the branch," Nunes said. "We believe that's what broke his leg." No police helicopters were available for a rope rescue, so county firefighters descended the cliff as night was falling. They loaded the motorcyclist into a rescue basket and pulled him up to the highway around 8:30 p.m., according to CHP reports. A medical helicopter landed at a private ranch nearby and flew the man to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. He was in stable condition and never lost consciousness, Nunes said. The other motorcyclist suffered minor injuries but declined medical treatment at the scene. The names of the motorcyclists were not available. One lane of Shoreline Highway was blocked for nearly two hours during the rescue effort. The crash is under investigation.
