‘She was amazing’: 18-year-old dies after falling at California dam

An 18-year-old fell to her death at Big Bear Dam, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department announced this week. 

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According to a Wednesday morning news release, responders from the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station arrived at the dam to assist with the search and rescue of a teenager who had fallen off a support structure at the Highway 18 bridge at 11 p.m. Tuesday. Highway 18 connects Victorville, Big Bear City and Lake Arrowhead. The victim was identified by the county coroner’s office as Isabella A. Fanuele.

Fanuele was under the bridge with several friends when she fell from the support structure and onto the hills below, the sheriff’s department said. When authorities descended and attempted to provide life-saving measures, they found she was dead at the scene. Her father told the California Post that she had graduated from Big Bear High School just two weeks earlier and loved to study, bake and play sports. She was so savvy, he told the outlet, that she opened her own business at school. “She was amazing,” he told the Post.

“Bella’s energy and kindness touched everyone around her,” a GoFundMe for her family says. “And her loss has left her family and friends heartbroken.” 

“Based on the preliminary investigation, there are no indications of suspicious circumstances surrounding the young woman’s death,” the sheriff’s department said. “However, the investigation remains open and ongoing.” Anyone with more information about the fatality is encouraged to call 909-866-0100. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call We-Tip Hotline at 844-909-3006 or text “REPORT” to 844-909-3006.  

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San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department media representatives did not respond to SFGATE’s request for more information by the time of publication.