News & Columns > News Team > Red Rock Wall Accident Victim Identified (Update 10)

Red Rock Wall Accident Victim Identified (Update 10)

By News Team
Friday, August 1, 2008

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Update — Friday 5:35 p.m.

The California Highway Patrol issued the following news release at 4 p.m. on Friday:

"On Tuesday, July 29th, at an unknown time in the evening, Molly Kate Wolfgang was driving her 2008 Volvo XC90 northbound on SR-18 north of Lake Gregory Drive, at an unknown speed. For reasons not yet determined, Ms. Wolfgang failed to negotiate a left curve in the road, striking a metal guardrail along the east edge of an adjacent turnout commonly known as Red Rock Wall. The Volvo continued through the guardrail and over-turned numerous times, coming to rest approximately 1,100 feet down a steep, rocky mountainside. The wreckage was discovered on Wednesday, July 30th, confirming that a solo female occupant had sustained fatal injuries.

"On Thursday, July 31st, a San Bernardino County Sheriff's helicopter was used to recover Ms. Wolfgang's body. The Deputy County Coroner confirmed Ms. Wolfgang's identity and made family notifications.

"The Volvo was recovered, by helicopter, on Friday, August 1st.

"Arrowhead CHP Officer Mark Naylor is the primary investigating officer, assisted by Officer Don Walker."

Editor's note: RIMOFTHEWORLD.net extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Wolfgang.

Update — Friday 4:08 a.m.

Rimforest, CA — The traffic accident victim who died when her 2008 Volvo plunged off Highway 18 at Red Rock Wall has been identified as 34-year-old Molly Kate Lamers-Wolfgang.

Authorities report Lamers-Wolfgang left her Manhattan Beach home Monday evening and failed to reach the family's vacation home in Lake Arrowhead.

Officer Gary Fernandez of the California Highway Patrol explains the accident at Red Rock Wall is still under investigation. The CHP spokesperson added that the cause of the accident is unknown at this time. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Update — Thursday 3:51 p.m.

Rimfortest, CA — The San Bernardino County Coroner has confirmed that the Red Rock Wall accident victim is Molly Kate Lamers-Wolfgang, 34. Her body was recovered earlier today.

Update — Thursday 11:35 a.m.

Rimforest, CA — Rescuers used the jaws of life to extricate the body of the victim from the wreckage of a car that plunged 500 feet over the side of Highway 18 sometime before Tuesday morning, according to RIMOFTHEWORLD.net reporter Michael P. Neufeld.

A San Bernardino County Sheriff's helicopter heads to the site of a fatal accident near Red Rock Wall on Highway 18. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

The victim's body is being airlifted out for positive identification, but is assumed to be that of Molly Kate Lamers-Wolfgang, 34, of Newport Beach. During the next two to three hours, the vehicle will be secured and airlifted off the precarious, steep slope. A tow truck will then take the vehicle from the turnout at Red Rock Wall for further investigation.

Members of the San Gorgonio Search and Rescue team prepared equipment at Red Rock Wall just in case they were asked to go over the side and help retrieve the body of a fatal traffic accident victim. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

A crew of ten smoke jumpers from the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management assisted with securing the vehicle for the removal of the victim by removing trees.

Sgt. Steve Tobias of the Manhattan Beach Police Department stated the original missing person report was taken at about 9 p.m. Tuesday. However, it remains unclear when the accident occurred. There are some unconfirmed reports that friends of Wolfgang first learned of her disappearance on Sunday. However, according to other reports, the family last spoke with Wolfgang on Monday. CHP Public Information Officer Gary Fernandez was unable to comment on the time or date that the accident occurred.

The license plate of a silver 2008 Volvo XC90 was found by a Deputy Sheriff a short distance from the edge of Red Rock Wall on Highway 18 near Rimforest. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

RIMOFTHEWORLD.net has also learned that the license plate found by Red Rock Wall was initially "several feet off the roadway," according to the Sheriff's Deputy that initially responded, and was moved up to near Red Rock Wall.

Caltrans spokesperson Terri Kasinga addressed media representatives at Red Rock Wall on Highway 18 near Rimforest on Thursday. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

In a statement from Terri Kasinga regarding a quote about an assumption that the vehicle had possibly struck the wall and left, Kasinga wrote, "I never made this statement." Additionally, Kasinga indicated that the conversation which occurred with Caltrans employee Darin Cooke was mischaracterized and incorrect. RIMOFTHEWORLD.net has removed the statement from the story.

Update 6 — Thursday 9:59 a.m.

Rescue crews are continuing recovery efforts this morning for a vehicle over the side near Red Rock Wall along Highway 18, according to RIMOFTHEWORLD.net reporter Mike Neufeld. A member of the San Bernardino County Coroner's Department was airlifted to the scene aboard Air Rescue 5 to assist in identification and recovery of the victim of the apparent accident. Sheriff Helicopter 40-King is also on scene to provide additional support for the operation. Rescue crews from the San Bernardino County Fire Department in Lake Arrowhead, Crest Forest Fire Protection District, San Gorgonio Search And Rescue, Rim of the World Search and Rescue, and the CHP are involved in the recovery operations.

Skids marks are visible in the Red Rock Wall turnout on Highway 18 where a car driven by 34-year-old Molly Kate Wolfgang reportedly went over the side of the mountain. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

According to Caltrans Public Information Officer Terri Kasinga, a Caltrans Maintenance Supervisor noticed the hole in Red Rock Wall on Tuesday morning at 6:30 a.m. while on his way to work. He examined the wall and, according to Kasinga, saw no evidence of a vehicle over the side. He continued to his office and dispatched a crew to put up a barricade and add the wall to a list of repairs. Kasinga noted that they did not see any broken tree limbs that would indicate a car went over the side. Neither the supervisor, nor the crew that was dispatched, considered the bumper debris and license plate from the missing 2008 Volvo XC90 sufficient cause to notify the CHP that an accident had occurred, if they even noticed the debris at all.

It appears that the accident was not reported to law enforcement until RIMOFTHEWORLD.net members were unable to find any accident reports listed for Red Rock Wall and member Rocketgirl called the Sheriff's Department shortly before 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

"I saw the cones when I went to the village on Tues," wrote member markilos. "I assumed another person went off the cliff and it was all taken care of considering there were cones there."

Update 5 — Thursday 4:20 a.m.

The California Highway Patrol has confirmed a deceased female has been found in a car about 800 feet below Red Rock Wall on Highway 18.

In a news release issued late Wednesday, the CHP explained the vehicle was approximately 800 feet over the side in very steep terrain.

Temporary barricades were placed by Caltrans at the Red Rock Wall site where a solo vehicle went over the side and plunged about 800 feet down the canyon. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

"A San Bernardino County Fire Department paramedic was lowered to the unidentifiable vehicle and pronounced a solo female occupant deceased," the news release stated. "Due to the instability of the vehicle he was unable to gain access to the vehicle. At this time it is unknown if the license plate recovered at the scene belongs to the vehicle over the side and the identity of the victim has not been confirmed."

A Sheriff's Department helicopter located the vehicle which was not visible from the Red Rock Wall turnout.

The CHP media advisory continued: "Due to the limited amount of remaining daylight, the recovery efforts will be performed Thursday morning. The California Highway Patrol, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, San Bernardino County Fire and the San Bernardino County Coroner will covene at 7 a.m. to work out the details for the recovery. The scene will be secured overnight by CHP personnel."

Update 4 — Wednesday 8:16 p.m.

Rimforest, CA — The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department has confirmed a deceased female has been found in a car about 700 feet below Red Rock Wall on Highway 18.

Public Information Officer Jodi Miller told RIMOFTHEWORLD.net that positive identification of the accident victim has not been made by the Coroner.

Search and Rescue personnel will secure the area around the damaged vehicle and recovery will be made Thursday morning. CHP units will secure the accident scene at Red Rock Wall.

Last update — Wednesday, 5:45 p.m.

Rimforest, CA — An intense rescue operation is underway along Highway 18 near Red Rock Wall, located about one mile east of Lake Gregory Drive. A license plate from a vehicle driven by missing Manhattan Beach woman, Molly Kate Wolfgang, was found at the scene. (See Woman Fails to Arrive in Lake Arrowhead.)

Several relatives from the victim are at the scene along with detectives from the CHP and the Manhattan Beach Police Department, according to a RIMOFTHEWORLD.net reporter at the scene.

Crest Forest Fire personnel suit up to possibly rappel over the side of Red Rock Wall. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

CHP Helicopter, 40-King, is on scene and has hoisted a rescue worker to the scene. The location where the vehicle came to rest is reported to be unstable and is obscured from the road by heavy vegetation. CHP detectives have cleared the rescue vehicles from the turnout at Red Rock Wall to perform an accident investigation. The rescue operations, recovery of the vehicle, and investigation are expected to last into Thursday, according to scanner reports.

Last Update - Wednesday, 5:22 p.m.

Rimforest, CA — Multiple law enforcement and rescue agencies are conducting a very technical rescue of a vehicle reported to be 700 to 800 feet over the side of Highway 18 near Red Rock Wall, located about one mile east of Lake Gregory Drive.

Additional resources are planning to land at Rim of the World High School to assist with the rescue operations. Earlier, the CHP had planned to close Highway 18 for the rescue operations, but the Highway is expected to remain open, at least for now.

Last Update - Wednesday, 4:54 p.m.

Rimforest, CA — Between Rimforest and Crestline, officials have found an apparent vehicle over the side. Around 3:40 p.m. this afternoon, authorities located damage to a guardrail and found a license plate about a foot over the side. A CHP helicopter spotted a silver Volvo about 500 feet over the side of the highway in very dense vegetation.

Highway 18 between Lake Gregory Drive in Crestline and Pine Street in Rimforest has been closed.

According to our reporter on the scene, the turnout at Red Rock Wall is filled with emergency personnel as engines from Crest Forest Fire Protection District and Lake Arrowhead Station 91 are beginning a very technical ropes rescue operation to reach the vehicle.

Air Rescue 5 is performing reconnaissance of the ravine the vehicle is in from the bottom upwards, while a ropes rescue team is rappelling from the top, in their search for victims.

The CHP has positively identified the vehicle involved, but is currently withholding additional details.

Original Story - Wednesday, 4:23 p.m.

Rimforest, CA — Authorities have located what appears to be a vehicle over the side on highway 18 at Red Rock Wall, approximately 1-1/2 miles west of Rimforest.

Red Rock Wall on Highway 18 (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Additional details will be released as they become available.