NELSON COUNTY, Va. — Wintergreen Fire and Rescue responded to a report of traumatic injuries behind the Highlands Condos on the evening of January 30, 2026.
Upon arrival, crews located multiple patients who had slid several hundred feet down a steep embankment, crossed a deep ditch and come to rest in a wooded area. Officials said there are no sidewalks or walking paths near the area where the descent began.
The department’s Technical Rescue Team was dispatched, with approximately 10 members responding.
Crews used ropes to access the patients and to lower and haul equipment.
Since the patients were located near a closed ski slope, Wintergreen Ski Patrol and Wintergreen Resort assisted with the rescue.
One patient was hauled up the embankment using a rope system.
The second was transported to a waiting ambulance by a grooming tractor.
One patient was taken to UVA Medical Center, and the other was transported to Augusta Health. Neither patient sustained life-threatening injuries.
Access and egress to the scene required the closure of portions of Wintergreen Drive and Blue Ridge Drive for several hours.
Wintergreen Police managed traffic during the incident.
The rescue operation lasted approximately three hours.
During this incident, Wintergreen crews also responded to three additional calls for service.
Emergency Apparatus on scene included:
Wintergreen Squad 1
Wintergreen Truck 61
Wintergreen Engine 61
Wintergreen Response 61
Wintergreen Medic 179
Nelson EMS Medic 93
Wintergreen Response 171
Wintergreen Response 174
Wintergreen Utility 60
Wintergreen Response 63
Wintergreen Captain 65
Wintergreen Chief 61
Stuarts Draft Rescue 61
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF WINTERGREEN FIRE AND RESCUE.
