Overview
- Officials named one victim as Marcus Alexander Muench Casanova, 19, of Seal Beach, as recovery and investigative work continued.
- A search launched Dec. 29 for an injured 19-year-old who reportedly fell about 500 feet led to the discovery of two additional, unrelated hikers nearby.
- High winds repeatedly made helicopter hoists unsafe; at about 7:30 p.m. Monday an air medic was lowered and confirmed all three were deceased.
- The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department enacted a temporary closure for Mt. Baldy trails to reduce further emergencies during operations.
- Causes of death have not been released; authorities warned that winter conditions on the Devil’s Backbone and Mt. Baldy have driven frequent rescues and fatalities.