Authorities encourage Kentuckians to enable iPhone feature after Rowan County crash

ROWAN COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) — Authorities are urging Kentuckians with iPhones and Apple Watches to enable this feature after it helped locate a UTV that crashed over a cliff over the weekend.

First responders with Hayes Crossing – Halderman Fire/Rescue announced on Sunday morning that an iPhone crash detection alert helped them locate a crashed RZR utility vehicle (UTV). The two individuals in the crash were injured.

Officials said that, due to the remote location of the crash, numerous first responders were called in to help with rescue efforts. After successfully retrieving the vehicle and the two individuals, they were taken to an area hospital for treatment. Their status is not currently known.

“If you are going to be out riding atvs or utvs, or even motorcycles or vehicles, PLEASE keep the IPhone and/or Apple Watch crash detection on!” the rescue crew wrote on Facebook. Officials credited the crash detection option, saying it “truly helped us find these 2 tonight.”

To turn on/off crash detection on iPhone, Apple Support says to do the following:

• Open the Settings app
• Tap Emergency SOS
• Enable Call After Severe Crash

Apple noted that, if after 10 seconds of crash detection, an individual hasn’t initiated a call or canceled the prompted alert, the device begins another 30-second countdown. During this countdown, the phone will make loud whoops to get attention, as well as aggressively vibrating and flashing built-in LED lights.