Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A woman from China was identified as the victim who reportedly fell into the San Gabriel River near the Bridge to Nowhere April 8 and later drowned.
Huanjing Zheng, 27, was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. She was declared deceased at the scene. Her death was ruled accidental. She also suffered from blunt head trauma. First responders were called to the area on a report of a hiker having fallen in the river. A large mutual aid response was initiated involving the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau, Montrose Search and Rescue Team and the San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team. The rescue operation was coordinated at Camp Williams RV Resort, 24210 E. Fork Rd. Hikers reported initially seeing what appeared to be a person wearing a red jacket floating down the river, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic. Rescuers located Zheng’s body near Camp Williams and recovered her. Zheng’s body was kept in an ambulance until coroner investigators arrived to take possession. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor UPDATE, 11:17 a.m.: Firefighters have brought the body out of the river and up to Camp Williams. The body will remain in an ambulance for two hours until the arrival of coroner investigators.
UPDATE, 10:40 a.m.: First responders have located a body in the river near Camp Williams RV Resort. They do not know if this is specifically the person spotted floating face down in the river this morning. MOUNTAINS - Los Angeles County Firefighters and Sheriff’s deputies are searching for a report of two bodies seen floating down the San Gabriel River. The rescue operation is unfolding at Camp Williams RV Resort, 24210 E. Fork Rd. Hikers reported initially seeing what appeared to be a person wearing a red jacket floating down the river, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic. Firefighters were told once they arrived to Camp Williams that there are possibly two bodies floating down the river. A Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter and a rescue team aboard a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s helicopter are all en route for reconnaissance and possible body recovery. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor UPDATE, 11 a.m.: Firefighters have knocked down the OakWilde Fire and have held it to 1 acre, according to the US Forest Service.
UPDATE, 9:40 a.m.: A woman was extracted from the burning vehicle that ignited the Oakwide Fire burning along Angeles Crest Highway. It is unclear if any other occupants were in the vehicle. MOUNTAINS - An estimated 1-acre brushfire is currently burning deep in the mountains above La Cañada Flintridge after a reported vehicle crash. The vehicle crashed along Angeles Crest Highway near mile marker 30.15. The US Forest Service has responded, along with Los Angeles County Fire Department which is sending a full brushfire response including the Canadian-built Super Scoopers. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION – A potential loss of engine power is believed to have contributed to a crash of a medical copter south of Mt. Baldy September 4, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
A Bell 407 helicopter was being used to shuttle water and equipment in support of a local charity event. Four successful shuttle flights were performed and during a fifth flight to the off-airport landing zone the low RPM warning sounded, according to the preliminary NTSB report. The pilot aborted the approach and attempted unsuccessfully to increase engine power. “The engine power did not recover, and the pilot performed an autorotation to a nearby road. The helicopter rolled upon landing, which resulted in substantial damage,” according to the NTSB preliminary report. The pilot was seriously injured and the helicopter was substantially damaged. The Bell helicopter is registered to Air Methods Corporation in Greenwood Village, Colorado and is part of an air medical transport fleet for Mercy Air. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - A pilot was transported in undisclosed condition by ground ambulance after a helicopter crashed near Mt. Baldy Village Sunday morning.
The aircraft crash was reported around 8 a.m. along Mount Baldy Road near Barrett Stoddard Road according to the California Highway Patrol. There was one person inside the helicopter when it crashed. The pilot was driven to Mount Baldy Village and was transferred to a ground ambulance to be taken to the hospital, according to US Forest Service radio traffic. The Bell helicopter is registered to Air Methods Corporation in Greenwood Village, Colorado and is part of an air medical transport fleet for Mercy Air. Firefighters from the US Forest Service, Los Angeles County Fire Department and San Bernardino County responded to the scene. Northbound lanes of Mt. Baldy Road at Shinn Road remain closed by the CHP. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS – San Gabriel Canyon will be temporarily closed Labor Day weekend due to ongoing fire operations, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Vehicle, pedestrian, equestrian and all other recreational activity is off limits. The Gulch Fire has burned 113 acres and is 78 percent contained as of Thursday night. There are 98 firefighters remaining on scene, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Highway 39 remains closed from the San Gabriel River Bridge to Crystal Lake Road. East Fork Road remains closed from Highway 39 to Glendora Mountain Road, the latter is closed from the border of Glendora to East Fork Road. Glendora Ridge Road is closed from Mt. Baldy Road to Glendora Mountain Road. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS – Crews worked through the night to gain ground on a stubborn brush fire, the third to scorch the hillsides this week.
The most recent Gulch Fire, which ignited just before Noon August 29, has burned 100 acres near Highway 39 near the San Gabriel Dam. Firefighters have not reached containment on the fire as of Monday night. Highway 39 from the San Gabriel River Bridge to Crystal Lake Road remains closed, according to Caltrans. The East Fire, which ignited near East Fork Road and Glendora Mountain Road August 25, has burned 150 acres and is 93 percent contained. The East Fire remains in its footprint as the remaining 148 firefighters on scene continue suppression and mop-up operations, according to the U.S. Forest Service. A small 40-foot by 40-foot spot fire was quickly snuffed out August 29 by Los Angeles County Firefighters in the hillsides of Glendora right behind Church of the Open Door, 701 W. Sierra Madre Ave. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS – The fire burning in the steep terrain of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument is nearly out, authorities said Sunday.
The East Fire, burning north of the La Verne/Glendora area, is 93 percent contained and has already burned 150 acres, according to the U.S. Forest Service. No evacuations were needed and no structures were threatened by the fire that ignited near Glendora Mountain Road and East Fork Road August 25. East Fork Road remains closed from Highway 39 to Glendora Mountain Road. Glendora Mountain Road remains closed from the City of Glendora to East Fork Road. Glendora Ridge remains closed from Mt. Baldy Road to Glendora Mountain Road. The fire’s cause is under investigation. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Firefighters continue their assault from the ground and from the air to halt a brush fire burning deep into the mountains above La Verne Thursday.
The brush fire burning near Glendora Mountain Road and East Fork Road has burned an estimated 96 acres. Firefighters have no containment on the fire more than six hours after they were dispatched, according to the US Forest Service. The East Fire is burning away from structures, residents and continues to creep into the wilderness of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, according to the US Forest Service. Glendora Mountain Road from the city of Glendora to East Fork Road is closed, as well as Glendora Ridge Road from Mount Baldy to Glendora Mountain Road. The Los Angeles County Fire Department is providing mutual aid assistance. The California Highway Patrol has additionally closed eastbound traffic on East Fork Road from Highway 39 above Azusa. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor BALDWIN PARK – California Highway Patrol investigators served search warrants on multiple social media sites, which opened a virtual treasure trove into prosecuting participants of a dangerous “sideshow” event in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Investigators ultimately recommended 77 felony and misdemeanor charges against numerous suspects, including organizers, drivers, photographers and spectators. Arrest warrants were filed against them, according to the CHP Baldwin Park Office. The “sideshow” event took place in mid-2021 in the mountains above Azusa. Investigators pored over 19,000 pages of conversations for 11 months after serving five search warrants on various social media sites, according to the CHP. “Sideshow activities are dangerous, illegal, and will not be tolerated! Instead of risking it all by participating in illegal activities, make the safer choice and visit a local race track,” the CHP said in a written statement. |
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