Contributed article
GRAHAM COUNTY — On Dec. 23, at approximately 1:10 a.m., Graham County Communications was notified by Apple Services and transferred a male asking for help.
The male was able to say he had been in an accidentand needed help. Communications was able to get some GPS coordinates showing a general range of where the call was coming from. Law enforcement and medical personnel responded to the area and began to search.
The search continued for approximately 40 minutes until the male, later identified as Rory C. Long, 43, of Safford, was located having been ejected from his vehicle. The victim was located yards from his SUV.
It appeared the SUV had rolled as it slid off the side of a mesa into a canyon in the area northwest of the Solomon Bridge. The victim was severally injured from the accident.
Due to weather conditions, air support was unavailable at the time. Medical personnel had to hike to the victim. It was determined Search and Rescue might be able to assist in getting the victim out to the road and was paged out.
The victim was placed on a backboard due to severity of his injuries, and while moving him he stopped breathing. He was pronounced deceased at the location.
The victim was later taken to the Pima County Medical Examiner where an autopsy is scheduled. The family was notified on December 23.
The investigation is continuing.
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