Catastrophic mudslides ensnare motorists; a 2-year-old perishes in torrential rains as a fierce storm wreaks havoc in Southern California.
Heavy Rain and Mudslides Strike Southern California, Causing Tragedy and Destruction
A late summer storm system brought heavy rain to Southern California, resulting in mudslides and flooding that caused destruction and tragedy.
The storm system, remnants of Tropical Storm Mario, hit the region on Thursday, causing a mudslide on Cedar Falls Road in San Bernardino that included parts of an old burn scar from the El Dorado fire. The mudslide trapped multiple drivers and buried homes in Oak Glen.
In a heartbreaking incident, a 2-year-old boy named Xavier Padilla Aguilera died after floodwaters swept away his vehicle in Barstow, California. His father, Brandon Padilla Aguilera, was found alive but his son was missing for more than 20 hours. The boy's body was found on Friday afternoon in the San Bernardino County Flood Control channel.
The National Weather Service forecasted more rain could arrive Sunday, with a 25% chance of rain over the San Bernardino Mountains and the greatest chances over the mountains in San Diego and Riverside counties. A flood watch warning was in effect for portions of Central California, including the south end of the Sierra foothills, the Kern River Valley, and the Mojave Desert, until 5 p.m. Friday.
Thursday's downpour triggered a debris flow between Oak Glen and Forest Falls that carried trees, mud, and boulders. Vehicles were submerged in mud and photos shared on social media showed leaning utility poles and large rocks, branches, and roots covering two-lane roads.
In Oak Glen, Birch Creek overflowed, and several homes were impacted. Resident Denise Romo reported a mudslide rushing down the hillside after the storm hit. Another mudslide surrounded nearby homes in mud near Potato Canyon Road in Oak Glen.
State Route 38 through the San Bernardino Mountains was closed on Friday from Valley of the Falls to the bottom of South Fork. In Forest Falls, mudslides poured into neighborhood backyards, toppling at least one residential propane tank and triggering a gas leak.
The San Bernardino County Fire Department spokesperson Shawn Millerick stated that residents should be aware of the danger of debris flows in burn scars and canyons, as they cannot be heard or seen coming.
Throughout the region, the heavy rain and mudslides caused widespread disruption. About 10 people in six or seven cars were stranded on Highway 38 near Jenks Lake early Friday, but the California Highway Patrol was working to get them free.
As the region recovers from the storm, the community mourns the loss of young Xavier Padilla Aguilera and hopes for the safe return of those still missing. State Route 38 through San Bernardino Mountains remains closed with no reopening timeline.
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