A mountain biker was injured and had to be airlifted this afternoon following an off-road crash near Rainbow Canyon Road.

The crash victim, who is in his early 20s, suffered a head injury in the crash involving his mountain bike, according to Cal Fire Capt. Casey Hartman. 

Because the area proved inaccessible, a helicopter crew was called to make the rescue. The ambulance and parents of the downed biker were waiting in the overflow parking lot of the Pechanga Casino, according to Hartman.

“We are going to airlift him with our air rescue helicopter,” Hartman said, adding that an ambulance was waiting at the parking lot for the injured man.

The man was transferred from the rescue helicopter to a waiting ambulance and taken to a local hospital for treament of moderate injuries.

The details of the crash were not immediately available.