An 87-year-old woman was killed in a crash off of Highway 79 south of Beaumont, but authorities said Friday the specific time frame for when the fatality occurred remains uncertain.
Lynette Spencer of Calimesa was located in her wrecked Honda CRV at the bottom of a hill alongside southbound Highway 79, just north of Gilman Springs Road, about 2 p.m. Thursday, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Officer Jonathan Torres told City News Service that a sheriff’s STAR-9 helicopter crew, which operates out of nearby Hemet-Ryan Airport, happened to spot the top of the vehicle in rugged terrain as the chopper flew by and notified the CHP.
“It was down a steep embankment,” Torres said.
Riverside County Fire Department crews mounted a rescue, initially believing the party in the compact SUV might be alive. However, firefighters soon confirmed that Spencer was deceased.
“It is unknown if alcohol or drugs were involved,” Torres said. “The CHP did not receive any (prior) reports of a crash in this area. The vehicle’s final place of rest was not visible from any portion of the roadway.”
He said that no witnesses have been identified, and investigators are “trying to narrow down” when the vehicle plunged down the hillside.
“It did not appear to be an extended period of time before it was located,” Torres said.
Spencer’s family was notified of her death, but it was unclear whether any relatives or friends had been able to aid in the investigation.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the San Gorgonio CHP office at 951-846-5300.