The driver involved in a single vehicle crash in the 19000 block of River Road was airlifted to a local trauma center with major injuries.

According to Ripon Consolidated Fire District, the incident occurred just after 5 p.m. Monday.

RCFD was dispatched to the area on reports of a traffic accident.

“Upon arrival, crews found a single vehicle that had collided with an almond tree. Firefighters from Ripon and Escalon worked together to extricate the sole occupant, who was trapped inside the vehicle,” said RCFD officials via social media on Tuesday.

They added that “due to the extent of the damage, the extrication took approximately 20 minutes.”

Once freed, RCFD paramedics were able to provide immediate advanced life support medical care.

The local fire district expressed gratitude to the mutual aid partners – notably, the Escalon Consolidated Fire Protection District and Ripon Professional Firefighters Local 3880 – for assistance in this difficult incident.