Investigators found no initial evidence of suspicious circumstances after the 18-year-old fell beneath the Highway 18 bridge.
BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. — An 18-year-old woman died late Tuesday after falling from a support structure beneath the Highway 18 bridge near Big Bear Dam, authorities said.
Deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department responded to the dam at 37800 Big Bear Blvd. at about 11:03 p.m. after receiving a report that a young woman had fallen. Authorities identified her as Isabella Fanuele, a Big Bear resident.
Investigators said Fanuele had been beneath the Highway 18 bridge with friends before climbing to the top of a bridge support structure and falling. Authorities did not release further details about what happened in the moments before the fall.
Deputies and Big Bear Fire Department personnel descended the hillside to reach Fanuele at the bottom of the embankment. Paramedics immediately began lifesaving efforts, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
A preliminary investigation found no indication of suspicious circumstances, the Sheriff’s Department said. The investigation remains open, and authorities have not announced a final determination about the events leading to the fall.
The incident drew attention to an area that residents said has remained a popular gathering place for local teenagers despite the height and hazards around the bridge. Authorities did not announce whether access restrictions, fencing or other safety measures were being considered.
Fanuele’s family described her as an honor roll student who worked hard and was preparing to begin college. She hoped to own a bakery and had started selling cookies during her senior year, according to her family.
Friends gathered at the bridge Wednesday and placed flowers at a makeshift memorial. Other people visiting the area expressed sympathy for Fanuele’s family and sadness that her life ended as she was preparing for college.
The Sheriff’s Department said the circumstances remain under investigation. No additional findings had been released as of Thursday.
Author note: Last updated July 16, 2026.