Full Notification

DATE/TIME: Thursday, March 2, 2017/6:40 p.m.

INCIDENT: Traffic Collision/Vehicle in the Aqueduct

LOCATION: Main Street and Escondido Avenue in the City of Hesperia

VICTIMS: Christina Eileen Estrada (deceased), age 31; Jeremiah Robert Abbott (deceased), age 3; Elijah Estrada (remains in the hospital in stable condition), age 10; Noah Abbott (missing, search continues), age 2, all residents of Hesperia

SUMMARY:
UPDATE: March 16, 2017
On Thursday, March 16th at approximately 12:01 p.m., deputies from the Hesperia Police Department and Sheriff's Dive Team members responded to the report of a possible body in the aqueduct south of Farmington/7th Avenue in Hesperia.

Dive Team members recovered the body of a toddler believed to be Noah Abbott. The Coroner's Office responded to the location and took possession of the victim. Scientific positive identification is pending and will be determined by the Coroner's Office.

The MAIT Investigation into the cause of the traffic collision is still ongoing.
****
UPDATE: March 4th 4:23 p.m.
On Saturday, March 4th, at approximately 8:30 a.m., Dive Team members continued in the search for missing 2-year old Noah Abbott in the aqueduct. Dive Team members searched south of the Main Street Bridge with four dive team members in the water and one on each side of the aqueduct guiding the divers forward. There was zero visibility in the water for the divers. At approximately 2:00 p.m., the team was removed from the water due to unsafe conditions (water pressure/current pressure was returned to full flow).

Since the collision on the evening of March 2nd, the underwater search has spanned, north of the Main Street bridge, all the way south to Maple Avenue. Dive Team members covered an area of 2.5 miles of the 7-mile aqueduct. Sheriff’s Aviation Patrol helicopter has assisted dive team members during the search. Unfortunately, Noah has not been located, and the search in the aqueduct has concluded.

Deputies assigned to the Hesperia Police Department will continue to patrol the roadway that runs parallel to the aqueduct. Patrol deputies will immediately contact Dive Team members if there is a sighting.

The Sheriff’s Department Dive Team is comprised of highly trained Deputy Sheriffs who are committed to serving the families of such tragedies. Team members worked tirelessly and take it personally when they are not able to complete their mission.

The MAIT investigation is ongoing, and the cause of the collision remains under investigation.

Elijah Estrada has been released from the hospital and is continuing to recover at home with his family.

Updates will be provided as they become available.
***************
On Thursday, March 2, 2017, at approximately 6:40 p.m., deputies from the Hesperia Police Department and paramedics from the San Bernardino County Fire Department responded to a vehicle collision where the car became fully submerged in the aqueduct at Main Street and Escondido. Upon arrival, 10-year-old Elijah Estrada was found in the aqueduct holding onto floatation buoys with injuries. He informed deputies that there were three more persons inside the vehicle. Elijah was transported to a local area hospital where he continues to recover from his injuries.

The vehicle described as red Volkswagen convertible was not visible, as it was fully submerged in the water. Sheriff’s aviation 40K2 responded to assist in the search. Sheriff’s Dive Team members and deputies from the Hesperia Major Accident Investigation Team responded to the scene.

Dive team members located 3-year-old Jeremiah Abbott unconscious in the water. Jeremiah was transported to a local area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The vehicle was located and removed from the water. The driver, Christina Estrada, was found inside the vehicle and pronounced deceased at the scene.

Dive Team members continued to search the aqueduct for 2-year-old Noah Abbott. Search efforts were suspended at approximately 11:30 p.m., due to darkness and visibility.

On Friday, March 3rd at approximately 8:00 a.m., Sheriff’s Dive Team members resumed the search for the missing child. The search began just north of the Main Street bridge and moved south. Dive Team members have searched over one mile of the 6-mile aqueduct. At approximately 2:00 p.m., the search was suspended for the day. The search will continue Saturday morning at approximately 8;00 a.m., south of the Main Street bridge.

Deputies from the Major Accident Investigation Team are investigating the incident. There is nothing to suggest that this is anything other than a very tragic accident.

Updates will be provided as they are available for release.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Hesperia Police Department (760) 947-1500 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463), or you may leave information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.

Refer: Public Affairs Division

Phone No. (909) 387-3700



John McMahon, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department