Hiker Killed Diving at Hermit Falls ID'd

By City News Service

Authorities Thursday identified a college student who was killed when he jumped into a pool of water from Hermit Falls in the Angeles National Forest north of Arcadia.

A group of 13 college students was hiking Monday afternoon near Hermit Flats when some of them decided to jump into the pool, said Sgt. Rich Pena of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau.

The dead man was identified as Kevin La, 19, of Monterey Park, said coroner's Chief Craig Harvey. The death was being investigated as accidental, Harvey said.

"The victim was the sixth person to jump," Pena said. "After the victim jumped, he appeared on the surface but appeared to be unconscious. Several people from the group pulled the victim from the water and began CPR."

The young man was airlifted to Huntington Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Pena said. He reportedly attended Cal State Fullerton.