A teenage mountain biker was airlifted unconscious from Briones Regional Park on Saturday, July 11, after a serious fall on the trails, according to News24-680.com.
A California Highway Patrol helicopter crew flying H-30 transported the injured rider to Children's Hospital Oakland that afternoon. The teen was unconscious when the helicopter departed the park.
No official statement has been released by the CHP, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, or the East Bay Regional Park District. The teen's age, the specific trail where the crash occurred, and whether the rider was wearing a helmet have not been confirmed by any agency. The teen's condition as of Wednesday, July 15, remains unknown.
Bikes were permitted that day
Briones Regional Park spans 6,255 acres of rolling hills and shaded canyons northwest of Walnut Creek. The East Bay Regional Park District park is open for hiking, running, biking, and horseback riding, with staging areas off Reliez Valley Road near Martinez and Bear Creek Road near Orinda.
The park's 1,600-acre Special Management Area in the northeast section alternates weekend trail access between cyclists and equestrians based on odd and even calendar dates. Saturday, July 11, was an odd-numbered day, meaning bicycles were permitted in that zone. The EBRPD Board of Directors formalized the alternating schedule in December 2024 after a 20-month pilot project.
The park also contains Briones' steepest mountain bike terrain, including a black-diamond-rated, downhill-only singletrack trail with 623 feet of elevation descent. The specific trail involved in Saturday's crash has not been identified.
How to report emergencies in regional parks
CHP helicopter H-30 is operated by the CHP Golden Gate Division Air Operations unit, which regularly responds to trail and wilderness rescues across the Bay Area.
For emergencies in East Bay Regional Park District parks, visitors should call 911 or (510) 881-1121 from a cell phone. The line is staffed 24 hours a day. For non-emergency trail hazards or damaged facilities, the park district's dispatch number is (510) 881-1833.
The park district's Public Safety Division is staffed by approximately 450 personnel at peak summer season, covering police, fire, and lifeguard operations across the district's parklands.
