A Southern California hiker was killed in a tragic accident after she was struck by a boulder near a popular waterfall trail, authorities said.
Lillian Rodriguez, 52, of Redlands, California, died Sunday afternoon while hiking near Bonita Falls in the San Bernardino National Forest.
Officials were called to a hiking trail near the 900 block of South Fork Road in Lytle Creek around 3:14 p.m. on June 14, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
Callers initially reported that a woman had been struck by either a falling tree branch or a rock, according to local reports.
Because the area was remote, a search and rescue team had difficulty reaching the victim and had to hike to the scene.
When rescuers arrived, Rodriguez was pronounced dead.
A preliminary investigation found that Rodriguez had been hiking near the falls when “a large boulder came down from the hillside and hit the woman in the head,” sheriff’s spokesperson Jenny Smith told the Victorville Daily Press.
“Sadly, she did not survive,” Smith said.
However, one passerby who said he spoke with Rodriguez before the fatal incident described a different version of what happened.
Jose Reynaud told Victor Valley News Group that Rodriguez had been trying to get a better view of the waterfall when she grabbed a branch that broke.
“I talked to the lady as she passed by me,” Reynaud said. “What really happened was she was taking pictures of the waterfall and tried to get a better view, she grabbed a branch which broke on her, she fell and hit her head on a rock.”
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
Bonita Falls is a popular hiking destination in the San Bernardino National Forest. The out-and-back trail is about 1.8 miles long and is rated moderate in difficulty, according to AllTrails.
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