December 2010 Archives

By Neil Nisperos 

Staff Writer

CHINO -- Authorities have placed even more barricades to stop motorists from entering the flooded area of Euclid Avenue just north of the 71 Freeway where a woman's car was submerged Saturday, resulting in her death.

Joan Ja Oden, 67, of Pasadena drove her car north on Euclid past road barriers and into floodwaters over the road, near the Prado Olympic Shooting Park. Witnesses in the area called the Chino Valley Independent Fire District, which dispatched a swift water rescue team.

"That area of Euclid near the 71 Freeway, south of Prado Regional Park, is kind of a depression area, and during heavy rains you get a lot of water backed up behind Prado Dam and it can flood over the road," Battalion Chief Jeff Gaul said.

"The car was coming up the roadway when it hit the water, floated away about 150 feet, and began sinking under 10 feet of water."

An unidentified man went into the water and was able to pull Oden through the sunroof of her Mercedes, Gaul said. A fire district boat picked up Oden and her rescuer.

Gaul said Oden was in critical condition when she was taken to Chino Valley Medical Center. She died at 4:20 a.m., according to a San Bernardino County coroner's news release.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the incident because Euclid is a state route, and the coroner will conduct an autopsy later this week to determine the exact cause of death.

California Highway Patrol Sgt. J. Whitney said there was no indication of foul play. The road portion was still closed on Monday and more barricades were placed on the Euclid to prevent motor access.

The flooded portion of Euclid is expected to be closed for repairs for the next two weeks, according to Caltrans.

Chino Valley Battalion Chief Ruben Guerrero said residents should obey road closures barricades and notifications.

"People get into trouble when they disregard warnings and decide to go through the barricades," he said. "The biggest thing to do during rains is to keep away from the washes."

The Saturday incident follows the January 2008 death of 25-year-old Lindsey Marie Erickson, who was killed when Mill Creek overflowed onto nearby Chino Corona Road and swept her truck into the wash. Her boyfriend, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was rescued by firefighters and was not seriously hurt.

Chino police determined after the accident that the barricades blocking the road had been moved before Erickson arrived.

Chino officials have since installed steel swinging gates at that location that are secured with a padlock during rainy weather.

neil.nisperos@inlandnewspapers.com

909-483-9356

By Neil Nisperos 

Staff Writer

CHINO -- Firefighters worked Monday to extinguish two 25-foot stacks of green waste at a recycling center in the city.

The piles, which consisted of branches, palm fronds and other waste, started Sunday at Vander Eyk Dairy at the corner of Hellman Avenue and Chino Corona Road.

"These types of fires burn typically for long periods of time because the material is densely packed, and, in order to get to the inside of the fire and to be extinguished from within, the piles need to be broken apart," said Massiel Ladron De Guevara, spokeswoman for the Chino Valley Independent Fire District.

Investigators have not confirmed what caused the fire, which started about 6 p.m. Sunday.

No injuries or property damage was reported.

At least 16 Chino Valley Independent firefighters and additional personnel from Riverside County Fire Department worked on the blaze. They used heavy equipment to break the piles apart and spread the debris out, officials said.

As of Monday, the fire has been 70 percent contained. Heavy equipment use was suspended overnight because of darkness. The fire department expects full containment  by mid Tuesday.

neil.nisperos@inlandnewspapers.com 909-483-9356