A young mother drowned Sunday morning after being swept into the San Gabriel River while hiking the Bridge to Nowhere trail in Angeles National Forest. Members of the San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team were stationed at the East Fork trailhead around 8 a.m., speaking with hikers about river crossing safety when a runner alerted them that a young mother had fallen into the river and was being swept away by the current.
Key Takeaways
A young mother drowned Sunday after being swept away while hiking the Bridge to Nowhere trail in Angeles National Forest. Emergency crews recovered her body, identified as Jaqueline Aguilar De Lao, 33. The San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team urged hikers to avoid the area until water levels drop significantly.
- Young mother drowns at second river crossing on Bridge to Nowhere Trail
- Emergency crews recover body identified as Jaqueline Aguilar De Lao, 33
- Rescuers warn of dangerous conditions due to swift, high water
- Hikers urged to avoid the area until water levels drop significantly
- Trail reopened last summer after closure due to Bridge fire
Emergency crews from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, its air operations unit, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene. The woman's body was found during the search, which lasted several hours. The county medical examiner identified her as Jaqueline Aguilar De Lao, 33.
The San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team urged the public to stay off the East Fork and Bridge to Nowhere Trail until water levels drop significantly. "Turn around if the water looks too fast or deep. Your life (and your loved ones' hearts) are worth more than any hike," the team said in a social media post.
The trail reopened last summer after nearly a year of closure due to the Bridge fire, which burned over 56,000 acres in 2024. Justin Seastrand, forest recreation manager at Angeles National Forest, had previously stated that the East Fork watershed area would remain closed for another year due to severe burns that can cause flooding and possible debris flow.
Rescue teams emphasized the dangerous conditions of the river crossings, warning even experienced hikers to be cautious. The incident serves as a tragic reminder of the potential hazards in popular hiking areas during periods of high water flow.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.