Vehicle found in Poway five days before woman was rescued from storm drain.

Five days prior to the discovery of Yafang Zhou, a 59-year-old woman from San Diego, in a storm drain in Poway, law enforcement had located her vehicle parked at a nearby trailhead. This new information, released on Thursday by the Medical Examiner’s Office, outlines the timeline of events that led to the search for Zhou in the remote area.

Zhou was found inside an underground pipe system near Beeler Canyon trailhead, situated south of Scripps Poway Parkway, on Monday. Upon discovery, she was promptly transported to Palomar Medical Center, where she later succumbed to her injuries.

Further details from the Medical Examiner’s Office revealed that Zhou’s vehicle had been spotted by San Diego police officers on April 2, five days before her rescue. Investigators noted that personal belongings of Zhou were scattered near her vehicle, raising concerns for her wellbeing. After authorities contacted Zhou’s family, her husband filed a missing person’s report the following day. Police reported that she was last seen leaving her residence in her vehicle on March 25.

Over the ensuing five days, detectives conducted thorough searches around the trailhead parking lot. Their efforts culminated on Monday when they detected a woman’s voice emanating from within the pipe system. Battalion Chief Erik Windsor of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department shared that members of the Urban Search and Rescue team were called to assist in the operation.

Rescue personnel deployed into the complex underground piping, taking various paths in an attempt to locate Zhou. Despite their efforts, initial searches yielded no results. Meanwhile, surface team members began lifting nearby manhole covers to aid in the search. Eventually, a team member lifted a metal cover and spotted Zhou’s legs, leading to her extraction.

According to the Medical Examiner’s Office, Zhou exhibited an “altered mental status” upon discovery, and her health deteriorated rapidly after arrival at the hospital. Investigators believe that she may have accessed the storm drain system through an outflow opening located a short distance from where her car was found.

While the investigation continues, police have not yet disclosed additional details regarding Zhou’s disappearance or the duration of her time spent within the drainage system. As authorities work to uncover the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident, the community remains in shock over the loss of a life believed to have ended far too soon. The investigation is ongoing as officials seek to piece together the events leading up to this unfortunate situation.