Three women freeze to death in California mountains after crossing border, agents say

Five people who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally found themselves lost in a snowstorm Monday in mountains east of San Diego, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents say.

Two men called 911 for help near the Cuyapaipe Indian Reservation in the Laguna Mountains at 2:15 p.m., the agency says.

Border Patrol agents found the men, ages 22 and 37, in the rugged terrain and learned three women were trapped in the snow near Mount Laguna, the agency says.

Rescuers found the women at 5 p.m. with the help of a helicopter, but could not revive two of them, agents say. The third also died at 7:30 p.m. during lifesaving efforts. Because of the storm, agents were not able to retrieve their bodies Monday.

The two men, both from Mexico, were arrested on suspicion of illegal entry and taken to a processing center, the agency reported.

“This incident that resulted in the tragic loss of lives was totally avoidable,” said San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke in the release. “We have said it many times, do not place your life or the lives of your loved ones in the hands of ruthless smugglers.”

Heitke said he was proud of the efforts of agents and rescuers to save the women.

“Our agents also put their own lives at risk traversing the dangerous routes that these criminal organizations smuggle people through in an attempt to avoid apprehension,” he said, according to the release.

A winter storm dumped several inches of snow Monday on Mount Laguna, KSWB reported.

This story was originally published February 12, 2020 at 10:56 AM with the headline "Three women freeze to death in California mountains after crossing border, agents say."