An 18-year-old girl fell from a bridge support structure in Big Bear, California, leading to mourning among family and friends. The victim, Bella Fanuele, a local resident and recent high school graduate, was identified in a GoFundMe campaign. Known for her passion for baking, she hoped to open her own bakery.
Authorities responded to the incident at around 11 p.m. at Big Bear Dam, located at 37800 Big Bear Blvd. Deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and rescue workers, including the Big Bear Fire Department, participated in search and rescue efforts. They found Fanuele below a support structure under Highway 18. Despite performing lifesaving measures, she was declared dead at the scene.
The early investigation found no suspicious circumstances surrounding Fanuele’s death. On Wednesday, friends of Fanuele gathered at the bridge, leaving flowers to create a memorial. Residents described the area as a popular hangout for local teenagers.
Fanuele was excited to begin college and had dreams of starting her bakery. Her family plans to fulfill her dream by establishing a bakery in her name to honor her memory and aspirations.
Seamus Bozeman, a reporting intern with the Los Angeles Times’ breaking news team, is a Los Angeles native and journalism major at Cal State Los Angeles. He focuses on labor issues and investigative journalism.
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