Full response to 911 call about a man being trapped under a car in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A full response by local first responders not only helped find a man in distress but also showed that practiced procedures and community involvement work.

On Monday morning at about 10:35 a.m., the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) dispatch center received a 911 call from a male with what sounded like a Hispanic accent, who mumbled what dispatchers thought was "I'm under a Lincoln Navigator." After listening to the call a few times, police are thinking the person was working on a car, it fell on him, and now he needs help.

SLTPD Lt. Travis Cabral said it sounded to them the man was losing consciousness though it was hard for them to understand.

No number was attached to the phone so they pinged it to the cell tower in the Tahoe Keys which put the call from about 592 meters away.

SLTPD started patrolling the streets in the Keys first, and they were joined by South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and El Dorado County Sheriff's Office.

SLTPD Sgt. Liles was in the field and told Lt. Cabral it was important they cover every street so they set up a command center. The recording of the caller was sent to him. At this time they think the man said he was on a hill so the search expanded to Gardner Mountain. They called in Search and Rescue, had the County do reverse 911, involved the public through social media, and used the City's Civic Plus system to ask for people to help them find the man under a white Navigator. Cabral said they wanted to find this man.

For those who don't speak Spanish, mumbled words are even harder to understand. A records clerk on duty who spoke Spanish listened to the caller's words. He told the officer the man is near Heavenly and Pioneer. Within minutes the Navigator and caller were found near Keller Road and Bridle Road and the man received medical attention at the scene.

"We were very fortunate," said Cabral. "We used this as a learning experience. It was cool to see the public's response. This was a very fortunate event, but we have many where we weren't so lucky."