Firefighters Recover Female Driver from Aqueduct

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March 7, 2010

Pedestrians out for an early morning walk discovered a vehicle submerged in the California Aqueduct with an occupant still inside and called 9-1-1. San Bernardino County Fire Department Rescue Units from the Hesperia, Adelanto, Baldy Mesa and Victorville stations responded.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a small vehicle fully submerged with the roof being approximately 3 feet below the surface in the aqueduct. San Bernardino County Firefighters out of Hesperia, who are members of California Regional Task Force 6 (CA-RTF-6), a state certified rescue team, conducted a rescue operation. The rescue team was able to enter the water and force their way inside the vehicle, where they pulled a female in her early 20's to the surface. The female was unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene.

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Dive Team and helicopter were called in to assist with a search of the aqueduct for additional victims. No additional persons were located and it is believed the female driver was the sole occupant.

It appears the vehicle was traveling southbound on Baldy Mesa Road when for unknown reasons the vehicle went through the north fence and guardrail of the aqueduct, landing in the water. It is believed the collision occurred sometime during the early morning hours. The cause of the collision is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol. The San Bernardino County Coroner's Office will determine the cause of death.