​Investigation Continues After Vehicle Plunges Into Irwindale Mine

Members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department San Dimas Station's Mountain Rescue Team Descend a steep wall at Irwindale's Olive Pit Mine Feb. 21 to retrieve evidence in a fatal crash.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

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IRWINDALE - A passerby’s curiosity led to the discovery of a fatal crash last week and the rescue of the driver, police said.

Investigators are still determining the cause of the crash after a vehicle sped through the intersection of Cypress Street and Azusa Canyon Road February 20. The westbound vehicle hopped the sidewalk, crashed through a metal barrier, chain link fence and into a mine.

The vehicle descended about 180 feet into the mine after flying across an access road and landing on a berm. The passenger was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. The driver extricated himself and attempted to climb to the bottom of the quarry, according to Sgt. Rudy Gatto of the Irwindale Police Department.

The passenger killed, 25-year-old Ontario man Isaac Lefebre, was identified by Sarah Ardalani, public information officer with the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner

A driver happened to see a gaping hole in the chain-link fence around 2:30 a.m. and found the crash. Surveillance footage from a nearby business showed the collision actually occurred around 1:16 a.m., Gatto told SGV CityWatch.

The Olive Pit Mine, where the crash occurred, was closed at the time of the crash. Other Irwindale quarries do run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Gatto told SGV CityWatch.

The day after the crash, the Irwindale Police Department requested the assistance of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station Mountain Rescue Team with repelling down the side of the mine to recover evidence.

It is not yet clear if alcohol, drugs, or street racing contributed to the crash.