UPDATE: MOUNTAIN CENTER: More than 5 dozen answer call after brothers fall from Lily Rock, one killed

UPDATED: Friday, Sept. 8, 9 p.m.

Lily Rock, also known as Tahquitz Rock, soars high above the trees below. Weather Underground image

MOUNTAIN CENTER — Officials and family members have identified two Oceanside brothers involved in a fatal fall from while attempting to climb Lily Rock, also known as Tahquitz rock Wednesday, Sept. 6.

One of the brothers died at the scene. The other sustained major, traumatic injuries, including internal injuries and bleeding.

Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner’s officials identified 24-year-old, Oceanside resident, Jonathan Zuniga as the victim killed in the fall. Jonathan was officially pronounced dead at 2:44 p.m., about 45 minutes after his fall was reported.

According to Jonathan’s family, his brother, Nathaniel Zuniga, was the other person who fell. He reportedly suffered major injuries and remains hospitalized.

A 911 call reporting the deadly fall shortly after 2 p.m. eventually brought more than five dozen officials and volunteers from multiple official agencies and volunteer organizations rushing to the scene.

More than three-dozen firefighters from five engine companies and three inmate fire crews from nearby Bautista Conservation Camp responded to the reported incident, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer Tawny Cabral explained in an earlier incident report.

They were assisted by countless others, including deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Hemet Station, U.S. Forest Service rangers, volunteer members of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit (RMRU) and no less than three helicopters, including Riverside Sheriff’s “Star-9”, Cal Fire’s “Copter 901” and a Mercy Air Ambulance.

More than five dozen officials, volunteers and inmate fire crews responded to the emergency. Miguel Shannon/Epicenter News photo

All assisted in one way or another with the dangerous and highly technical rescue and body recovery and eventual transportation of the surviving brother to an area trauma center, where his condition has been listed as serious.

“Firefighters hiked in to the location of the victim and located one victim who perished at the scene,” Cabral explained. Firefighters also located the second victim, who required a technical hoist to rescue him from the difficult terrain where he landed when falling from the rock face.

CAL FIRE’s “Copter 901” performed the hoist operation to pluck the surviving victim from his precarious location. “The victim was delivered to an awaiting air ambulance and transported to an area hospital with serious injuries,” said Cabral.

Deputies, investigators and other sheriff’s and coroner’s officials are investigating the cause of the fatal accident and have classified the case as an “accidental death” investigation.

Their investigation is active and ongoing; however, there has been no indication whatsoever that the incident is being treated as anything other than a tragic accident.

(See complete photo gallery and video from scene below.)

 

ORIGINAL STORY

RMRU volunteers made quick work offloading necessary gear for the arduous hike and climb ahead of them. Miguel Shannon/Epicenter News photo

MOUNTAIN CENTER — Dozens of Riverside County Fire and Sheriff’s officials, U.S. Forest Service rangers, inmate fire crew workers and volunteers came together Wednesday, Sept. 6, after officials received a report of two mountain climbers who had fallen while attempting to climb Humber Park’s Lily Rock, located at the end of Fern Valley Drive in Mountain Center, just outside Idyllwild.

The deceased hiker has not yet been identified, pending notification of his family and further investigation by sheriff’s and coroner’s officials.

Law enforcement and fire officials began responding to the incident when it was reported to Riverside County emergency dispatchers shortly after 2 p.m.

The 911 caller reported one hiker was already confirmed dead and the other had sustained “major” injuries and required immediate medical intervention and a technical, hoist rescue, according to fire and sheriff’s officials.

More than three-dozen firefighters from five engine companies and three inmate fire crews from nearby Bautista Conservation Camp responded to the mountain rescue, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer Tawny Cabral explained in an incident report.

They were assisted by countless others, including deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Hemet Station, American Medical Response medics, U.S. Forest Service rangers, volunteer members of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit (RMRU) and at least three helicopters, including Riverside Sheriff’s “Star-9,” Cal Fire’s “Copter 901” and a Mercy Air Ambulance.

With its peak at nearly 9,000 feet, the trails leading to Lily Rock can be steep and treacherous. Summit Post image

As officials began arriving at the location they quickly determined the technical nature and scope of the rescue and body recovery would require a massive, coordinated effort between multiple area agencies and volunteer organizations.

Within minutes of arriving, sheriff’s and fire officials had begun the process of notifying the multiple agencies and organizations that would be needed to safely and successfully complete the rescue and recovery.

With its massive, sheer, granite face soaring about 1,000 feet above the trees below and reaching nearly 9,000 feet in the sky, Lily Rock, also known as Tahquitz Rock and part of Tahquitz Peak is on the high, western slope of the San Jacinto mountain range.

The rock face is an internationally known and popular destination for hiking and mountain climbing.

With over 200 well-known and established routes, including routes to a fire lookout station and the areas best known for rock climbing, the trails offer some of the longest and most challenging climbs in Southern California.

Once officials were prepared, “Firefighters hiked in to the location of the victim and located one victim who perished at the scene,” Cabral explained. At least a dozen volunteer members of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit also hiked in to the location, as did several others, including deputies, medics and other rescue personnel.

Firefighters and others also located the second victim, who was alive, but had sustained major, traumatic injuries and required a technical hoist to rescue him from the difficult terrain where he landed when falling from the rock face.

Cal Fire’s “Copter 901” performed the hoist operation to pluck the surviving victim from his precarious location, according to Cabral, who said, “The victim was delivered to an awaiting air ambulance and transported to an area hospital with serious injuries.”

RMRU volunteers begin their long trek to reach the victims. Miguel Shannon/Epicenter News photo

Throughout the rescue and recovery operation, deputies, investigators and other sheriff’s and coroner’s officials investigated the cause of the fatal accident. Their investigation is ongoing.

Riverside County sheriff’s officials took the opportunity to remind hikers regarding safe hiking practices.

“Weather, awareness of your surroundings, proper equipment and supplies, and use of good judgment are essential for safe hiking,” said Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Agcaoili. “Hikers are also encouraged to venture out with a partner and stay on designated trails.”

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hemet Station deputies at (951) 791-3400. Callers can refer to incident file number D172490050 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

Click any image top open full-size gallery.

Miguel Shannon/Epicenter News video

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

trevor main

Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 27 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 14 grandchildren.

 

 

 

lily-white appearance which might account for the name. Another theory is that it was named for Lily Eastman who was the daughter of Dr. Sanford Eastman, the first Secretary and a Director of the “Southern California Colony Association” which later became Riverside.

 

Humber Park trail heads, approx 6300′