 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Search efforts for missing hiker Monica Reza will be limited in scope as the initial rescue phase concludes day eight, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff’s Missing Persons Unit with the department’s Homicide Bureau is continuing the investigation. Search efforts will be limited and continuous as data and information further inform the efforts of rescuers, according to the Sheriff’s Department. “Our hearts go out to Monica’s family, friends, coworkers, and the community who have shown great concern for her disappearance,” said Ryan Vienna, acting captain for the Sheriff’s Crescenta Valley Station. Reza, 60, was last seen June 22 around 9:10 a.m. in the Mt. Waterman area near 6000 Foot Gate along Angeles Crest Highway. She was last seen wearing the clothing featured in the provided photo. The search was conducted by an extensive team, featuring nearly 100 trained searchers, K9 teams, and multiple helicopters working steep, off-trail terrain. Teams from Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, San Diego, Kern, Tulare counties and the Bay Area assisted. Once all known trails were searched, efforts were focused on the deep back country of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in steep rugged terrain. Anyone with information on Reza’s whereabouts is urged to call Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, Missing Persons Unit Detective Shannon Rincon, or Detective Richie Sanchez at 323-890-5500.   Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Searches continue their quest to find a hiker last seen June 22 in the Mt. Waterman area. Monica Reza, 60, was last seen at 9:10 a.m. Saturday near 60001 Trailhead Avenue near Angeles Crest Highway. She stands 4 feet 11 inches tall, weighs 101 pounds and was wearing the clothing depicted in the above image. The Montrose Search and Rescue Team is coordinating the search with other rescue teams from the region. Anyone with information on Reza’s whereabouts is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Mission Persons Detail at 323-890-5500. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.   Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - A fire apparatus overturned and crashed on Highway 39 above Azusa Sunday afternoon. The crash happened on the mountain road at mile marker 24 some time around 5:30 p.m. November 3. First responders were en route northbound to a reported cliff rescue when the fire apparatus overturned, according to Officer Larsen of the California Highway Patrol Traffic Management Center. Three fire personnel were transported to Foothill Presbyterian Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, according to preliminary info from the California Highway Patrol. The firefighters were from the Los Angeles County Fire Department Station 32, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. station 32 is based in the city of Azusa. Both northbound and southbound lanes of Highway 39 remain closed for the investigation. Closure for northbound lanes begins at Highway 39 and Old San Gabriel Canyon Road, while the roadway is closed at Glendora Mountain Road and Mount Baldy Road. The crash was briefly considered a hazmat scene after it was believed that oil spilled from the crashed apparatus near the San Gabriel Reservoir. Apparently, it was only water that spilled from the fire apparatus, according to CHP traffic logs. 150 feet of guard rail was also damaged in the crash.  Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - A 48-year-old man last seen hiking July 14 was discovered dead five days later. Alexander Fernando Archila, a San Dimas man, was discovered somewhere along Bear Creek Trail, which is northwest of the San Gabriel Reservoir, in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The cause of death has yet to be determined. Crews focused their search in the West Fork area where Archila was last seen. He was hiking with friends when he became separated.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS - Search and rescue teams will continue looking for a female hiker Sunday who reportedly slipped and fell into the San Gabriel River March 9.
The search was paused Saturday due to diminishing sunlight. Crews will be back at sunrise March 10, according to Lt. Elisabeth Sachs of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas station. First responders were sent to Camp Bonita Road and Heaton Flats near the Bridge to Nowhere around 10 a.m. March 9. The victim, only described as a female, may have attempted a river crossing and slipped. Deputies spent Saturday attempting to notify the victim’s family, Sachs told SGV CityWatch. Search and rescue crews will once again search by foot and will have more air support Sunday.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - The driver of a Ford Ranger had little choice but to wait for help to somehow find her as she lay injured after crashing down 250 over Mt. Baldy Road one week ago.
Authorities said the driver, only described as a middle-aged woman, swerved to avoid striking a deer. She suffered a fractured ankle and was unable to call for help due to a lack of cellphone reception. The twisted Ford Ranger could not be seen from the roadway. “In this person’s case, she had enough supplies to survive in her pickup for four nights before help arrived,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station in a social media statement. A passing hiker set on finding new fishing spots heard the woman’s cries for help and contacted first responders. The San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team rappelled down to the twisted wreck, pulled the woman free and helped package her for air transport to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center. “We can’t stress this enough: if you plan on traveling on a mountain road this winter, bring extra supplies. It never hurts to have food, water, a sleeping bag, and extra layers on hand in the event of an emergency,” according to the Sheriff’s San Dimas Station.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Hikers reportedly stumbled upon a crash scene and a driver was saved after spending three frigid days inside the twisted wreck along Mt. Baldy Road Sunday.
The driver, only described as a middle-aged woman, was apparently alert enough to tell first responders that she had crashed and remained in her vehicle since Wednesday. She was taken by helicopter to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center for further treatment, according to Lt. Philpot of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. The Ford Ranger crash happen along about Mt. Baldy Road north of Shinn Road. First responders were called to the scene around 12:30 p.m. A Los Angeles County fire engine was in the general area when the call was made, and firefighters were very quickly on scene, Philpot told SGV CityWatch. The driver was pulled from the vehicle, which was estimated to be 100 feet down from the roadway, according to the California Highway Patrol. The extent of injuries to the driver is unclear.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Authorities recently announced that a hiker missing since July 1 in the mountains above the Altadena area was found dead one week after he was reported missing.
Albert Baer Zisook, 65, was found on Bear Canyon Trail near Mt. Lowe Road, according to the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner. His cause of death has been deferred, pending additional investigation. Zisook was reported missing to the Los Angeles Police Department. He was last seen July 1 at 6 a.m. near Chaney Trail and Loma Alta Drive in Altadena. Zisook's family noted that he was an avid hiker. "After many days of searching, with more than a thousand man-hours from multiple search & rescue teams, our operation concluded. However, the outcome was not as hoped. Our heartfelt condolences to the family of Albert Zisook," according to the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team in a written statement. The arduous search led a search team member to sustain serious injuries.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - A South Pasadena man who set out on a hike July 15 above Monrovia has not returned home, authorities said.
Colin Brian Walker, 53, was las seen on a Monrovia resident’s security camera in the 900 block of Ridgeside Drive heading to a hiking trail around 6:23 a.m. July 15. He has not been heard from since, according to the South Pasadena Police Department. Members of the Sierra Madre Search and Rescue team and the Montrose Search and Rescue Team have been searching by ground. A helicopter has also searched the area. Walker is white, stands 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 165 pounds. He was last seen in a gray t-shirt, dark shorts, gray socks, brown boots, a brown hat, carried hiking sticks and a large green backpack. Anyone with information on Walker’s whereabouts is urged to call the South Pasadena Police Department at 626-403-7297.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Investigators are still trying to determine why a driver in a 2015 Chevy Cruz went over the side of Angeles Crest Highway late Tuesday night.
The Chevy Cruz went over the side of Angeles Crest Highway while traveling westbound at mile marker 32.18, June 13. California Highway Patrol officers were dispatched at 8:30 p.m., according to Jonathan Boyd, public information officer for the CHP Altadena station. An investigator believes that the crash happened seven minutes prior to CHP being dispatched. It was not immediately clear how far over the side the Cruz fell, but initially Los Angeles County firefighters believe the vehicle fell more than 300 feet over Angeles Crest. Rescuers traveled down the mountainside to the vehicle and determined that the driver, only described as a Long Beach man, died at the scene, Boyd told SGV CityWatch. It is unclear if alcohol, drugs, or any other factors led to the crash. |
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