MENTONE, Calif. – Tragedy struck a family outing in San Bernardino County as a 4-year-old girl and her 2-year-old brother were swept away in Mill Creek near the Thurman Flats Picnic Area on Highway 38. The children were with their mother when the incident occurred, leading to a frantic search by authorities.
According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the mother was focused on her son when her daughter was carried downstream by the river’s current. Efforts to locate the young girl proved unsuccessful, and upon returning, her son was also missing, presumed to have been swept away as well.
The mother quickly sought help from a family member, but their combined efforts were unsuccessful in finding the children. Due to limited cell service in the area, it took approximately an hour for the mother to make a distress call to 911.
A coordinated search and rescue operation involving deputies, air rescue teams, fire personnel, and search and rescue members was initiated. The girl was located first and transported to a nearby hospital, followed by the discovery of the boy near the river’s edge. Despite immediate medical attention, both children were pronounced dead later in the evening.
The heartbreaking incident remains under investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the tragic outcome. Authorities are working to piece together the events that unfolded during the family outing. The community mourns the loss of the young siblings and offers their condolences to the grieving family.