A search for multiple missing hikers in the Anza area ended tragically Saturday night when one hiker was found deceased at the bottom of an approximately 150-foot rock face.
On January 17 at approximately 8:30 p.m., deputies responded to the area of the 56000 block of East State Highway 74 regarding a missing hiker. According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the caller reported that four individuals in their group left for a hike early that morning and were concerned when they had not returned.
Believing the missing hikers could be in distress, an additional hiker in their group went searching for them. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit and Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit responded to assist.
The Aviation Unit located the initial group of lost hikers and safely hoisted them out of the area. The hikers were transported to the Lake Hemet Mountain Station, where they were medically evaluated.
The Aviation Unit continued the search for the additional hiker and located them near the bottom of an approximately 150-foot rock face. Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit personnel accessed the location and pronounced the hiker deceased at the scene.
The identity of the deceased hiker was not released. The investigation remains ongoing.
