MOUNT LAGUNA – (INT) – Harsh winter weather has claimed the lives of three undocumented immigrants in the mountains of eastern San Diego County.

Three women and two men were attempting to cross the Laguna Mountains when they were overtaken Monday by a storm front on the Cuyapaipe Indian Reservation.

A Border Patrol search and rescue team battled winds and falling temperatures to locate the group. Two women were dead and a third died a couple of hours later.
Two men from Mexico were rescued and admitted being undocumented in the US.

The Border Patrol said all rescue efforts were fruitless and lifesaving attempts were exhausted. Weather conditions did not permit any successful helicopter hoist attempts and all other viable extraction options were not feasible.

Story Date: February 19, 2020