One dead and four hurt after a group of hikers plunged down an ice chute in the mountains near Los Angeles

  • A group of hikers plunged down an icy slope in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles
  • One person died at the scene, four others are injured, one critically
  • The accident is known as an ice chute and happened 7,000 ft high at Islip Saddle

By Associated Press

Published: 19:06 EST, 4 February 2017 | Updated: 21:28 EST, 4 February 2017

A group of hikers plunged down a long, steep icy slope in the mountains near Los Angeles on Saturday, killing one and injuring four others, one of them critically. 

The accident in what is known as an ice chute was reported around 11am at Islip Saddle, a hiking area about 7,000 feet high in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles, authorities said.

At least one hiker managed to contact members of a search and rescue team from Ventura County who were training in the area, and they notified the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, sheriff's Lieutenant Thomas Reid said.

A group of hikers plunged down a long, steep icy slope in the mountains near Los Angeles on Saturday, killing one and injuring four others, one of them critically. Pictured are members of an emergency crew who were sent in to rescue the hikers

The accident in what is known as an ice chute was reported around 11am at Islip Saddle, a hiking area about 7,000 feet high in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles, authorities said 

One person died at the scene, and one was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition with head and back injuries, said Bernard Peters, supervising dispatcher with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Two other people also were taken to hospitals, one with a wrist injury and another complaining of chest pain. All three also had hypothermia, Peters said.

A fifth person had a minor wrist injury and was treated at the scene, he said.

It wasn't immediately clear how long the hikers had been on the mountain or where they were headed.

The rescue site is in the Angeles National Forest in an area that is a trail-head for several hiking paths, including the famous Pacific Crest Trail that runs more than 2,600 miles from Mexico to Canada.

It wasn't immediately clear how long the hikers had been on the mountain or where they were headed. Pictured: An emergency crew who were sent down the slope to rescue the hikers

A stock image shows the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angales. The rescue site is in the Angeles National Forest in an area that is a trail-head for several hiking paths, including the famous Pacific Crest Trail that runs more than 2,600 miles from Mexico to Canada.

Comments (0)

Share what you think

No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now