FNN Article © Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
RUTLAND TOWNSHIP, PA – On Sunday evening, August 16, 2026, an Apple iPhone Crash Detection notification was received by Tioga County 911 Center shortly after 9:10 PM indicating a possible accident had just occurred.
Fire and EMS units from Mansfield Hose Company and fire units from Big Elm Volunteer Fire Department based in Daggett, PA, were immediately dispatched to the area where the call pinged, which was reported near 189 Dunkleberger Road in Rutland Township. At that time, no other information was available for responding emergency units. Far to often these types of calls are simply dropped cell phones. However, emergency responders always treat them as actual calls.
By 9:18 PM additional calls started coming into the 911 Dispatch Center, about a serious ATV rollover crash in which the driver was found laying in the roadway. Big Elm fire personnel arrived on scene shortly after receiving the 911 dispatcher’s updated information about this being an actual accident.
An air medical helicopter was requested by responding Wellsboro Medic unit, as well as, Big Elm fire personnel, and a Mansfield Fire Captain, due to the seriousness of the victim’s condition. Although a medical helicopter was needed, all medical helicopters had declined due to weather conditions.
The updated crash location was reported to be approximately a mile up from the Route 549 intersection, otherwise by 198 Dunkleberger Road, which is a dirt road.
The injured patient was evaluated as additional units arrived on scene. Once the ambulance from Mansfield arrived the male patient was loaded into the ambulance. The patient was then transported to Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, NY, for treatment. He was later transported to Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre,, PA, where he passed away due to his injuries on Monday, August 17, 2026.
Pennsylvania State Police confirmed that 64-yeaer-old Richard Rhodes of Warminster, PA, had succumbed to his injuries the following the day.
According to police, Rhodes was operating a 2018 Polaris Ranger when for some unknown reason the ATV went off the roadway and overturned onto the driver’s side. Rhodes was ejected from the ATV and he landed in the roadway. It was noted by state police that Rhodes was not wearing any safety equipment at the time of accident.
The ATV was removed from the scene by Windy Hill Garage and by 10:31 PM all remaining fire personnel from Mansfield Hose Company and Big Elm were cleared to return to their stations.
Remember to support your local fire and ambulance department in 2026. You never know when you will need their assistance in the time of an emergency.
