Sarah Louise Crocker, Ladera Ranch, Orange County, California woman falls to her death trying to save teen who slipped as group hiked along Three Sisters Falls in the Cleveland National Forest. Popular hiking trail described as moderate to cautious.
A Ladera Ranch woman fell to her death during an attempt to help a teen girl who had slipped and hurt herself along a popular California hiking trail.
Sarah Louise Crocker, 48, was hiking with family friends on Thursday when the group which consisted of four teen girls reached the middle pool of the Three Sisters Falls in the Cleveland National Forest when one of the teen girls slipped, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
‘The woman supervising the teenagers attempted to keep the girl from going over the ledge,’ authorities said in a statement. ‘Unfortunately, both the woman and girl fell and suffered severe injuries.’
U.S Forest Service warns of boulders made smooth and slippery by years of water run-off
Bystanders tried to resuscitate Crocker, who had fallen into the bottom pool area. Crocker who had gone hiking with her teenage daughter and the girl’s three friends was declared dead at the scene, FOX11 reported.
An investigation by the county medical examiner’s office determined Crocker died of multiple blunt-force trauma injuries. Her manner of death was ruled accidental.
The 15 year old teen girl was airlifted to a hospital for treatment; she suffered ‘severe but non-life-threatening injuries,’ the sheriff’s department said.
Crocker was described as a ‘talented and accomplished artist’ who grew up in Laguna Beach and raised her family in Ladera Ranch, according to the GoFundMe page created for her. She was involved in various school and community activities.
The Cleveland National Forest is about a 45-mile drive from San Diego.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the Three Sisters Falls hike is described as ‘moderate to strenuous.’
‘Gaining in popularity, this often crowded, yet challenging hike takes hikers through several ecosystems before leading to the main event — three large waterfalls wedged between tall, rocky mountains,’ the Forest Service said. ‘Recently having undergone some new development, hikers will find a safer and more direct route to the falls, which alleviates the requirement to rock/mountain climb, lowering injury risks and casualty rates.’
The Forest Service warns potential hikers to ‘be careful’ hiking around the falls, as ‘years of water runoff has left the large boulders incredibly smooth, making slips and falls common.’
