Man found dead in rugged Tijuana River Valley area

By Susan Shroder, Union-Tribune Staff Writer
Friday, December 4, 2009 at 6:34 p.m.

TIJUANA RIVER VALLEY — A suspected illegal border crosser died Friday night after an apparent fall, authorities said.

The U.S. Border Patrol contacted the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department for assistance about 5:17 p.m. A paramedic was lowered from a department helicopter, but the man was dead when the medic arrived, said Maurice Luque, spokesman for the Fire-Rescue department.

The victim apparently fell about 30 feet in an area near Hollister Street and Monument Road.

The Medical Examiner’s Office was going to determine how to remove the body, Luque said.

Luque said the river valley area has some rugged terrain.

“There are a lot of cliffs out there and areas that are steep,â€