Man swept away in Cajon Pass flash flood found dead after overnight search

Authorities have confirmed that a man swept away by powerful floodwaters in the Cajon Pass has been found dead following an overnight search.

The incident happened Tuesday night after a pickup truck attempted to cross a flash-flooded roadway and became stuck. When San Bernardino County Fire crews arrived, they found a man standing on top of the truck’s roof, surrounded by rapidly moving water.

As rescuers worked to reach him, the vehicle shifted in the rushing current, causing the man to fall into the water and be carried downstream. Two other people who were inside the vehicle were able to escape safely on their own.

Search crews worked for several hours overnight but were forced to suspend operations due to darkness, rain, and dangerous weather conditions that grounded aerial search efforts. The search resumed Wednesday morning when conditions improved, and the man was found about a half mile downstream from where the truck had been trapped.

His identity has not yet been released.

San Bernardino County Fire officials say the area’s terrain can make floodwaters especially dangerous.

Capt. Eric Sherwin with San Bernardino County Fire said the speed and force of debris-filled runoff in the region create life-threatening conditions during storms, particularly when water begins moving through natural channels.

The incident comes as storms continue to impact Southern California, bringing heavy rain, flash flooding, and hazardous travel conditions across the region.

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