One Dead in National Forest Crash off Chantry Flat Tuesday Morning

A man was found dead Tuesday near the site where a car crashed down an embankment from a road in the Angeles National Forest north of Arcadia, and authorities were initially searching for additional victims. They ultimately ruled this was a solo accident.

Firefighters were sent to the 2200 block of Santa Anita Canyon Road up towards Chantry Flat shortly before 8 a.m. The site is near the Santa Anita Dam.

The fatally injured man was about 25 years old, the California Highway Patrol reported. His name was withheld, pending notification of his relatives.

Sheriff’s officials said Tuesday afternoon it appeared to be a suicide.

Crews searched the rugged terrain for other possible victims, but none was found, and the search was called off early this afternoon, Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Randall Wright said.

When coroner’s investigators arrived, they called deputies’ attention to aspects that made the crash appear to be a suicide, according to LA County Sheriff’s dept.

The vehicle allegedly entered a locked gate at the entrance to Chantry Flat. The man went through the gate at about 2:30 a.m. Chantry Flat is closed at night with multiple locks on the gate.

More from Arcadia Weekly