Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: Ballinger Canyon, Ventura County, Ca.
Date & Time: 7-18-09 / 11:00 p.m.
Unit Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff's Department – Aviation / SAR Unit

(V)ictim, City of residence, Age:
Angel Gabriel, 20’s, Ventura, Ca.

On 7-25-09, two quad riders left the Ballinger Canyon campground for a short ride up the canyon. By sunset the riders had not returned and their friends called 911. Two resident deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department Lockwood Valley Station were sent to investigate. After learning the circumstances of the quad riders disappearance, the deputies called for the Sheriff’s Rescue helicopter and Search and Rescue ground units.

The helicopter arrived on scene first and began a search. Using night vision goggles and a Nite Sun, they located one of the quads abandoned on a trail approximately five miles from the campground. A search of the immediate area did not locate either one of the missing riders.

After refueling at the Lockwood Valley Station, the helicopter returned to the area. They located the second quad about a mile down canyon from the first quad. It too was abandoned on the side of the trail and neither of the riders could be located. Due to flight time limitations, the copter returned to quarters after relaying GPS coordinates.

Members of the Fillmore and East Valley search and rescue teams responded for the search. They searched the area on quads and on foot for the entire night and into the morning hours. At approximately 6:30 a.m., the rescue teams located the two riders. They were lost, cold, dehydrated and visibly shaken, but uninjured.

The riders told the rescuers that one quad had run out of gas and the other had mechanical problems. They tried to walk out during the night, but fell into a ravine. They decided to stay in the ravine until morning for fear that they would fall again. The riders said they knew search teams were looking for them because they saw and heard the helicopter many times. The searchlight even came close to them, but they were not seen.

When morning came, they climbed out of the ravine and heard the rescue teams calling their names. They were quickly located and returned the to campground by the rescuers. The Fillmore and East Valley SAR Teams then went back and retrieved the quads for the two riders and brought them to the Ballinger Canyon Campground. The riders were extremely grateful to the rescuers for their efforts.

The Fillmore and East Valley Search and Rescue Teams are made up of all volunteers. The highly trained members are experts such areas as rope rescue, wilderness search and rescue, and evidence recovery. They are overseen by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department Aviation / SAR Unit and are available twenty four hours a day, three hundred and sixty five days a year.