Bodies of mother, 2 daughters recovered from Klamath River

Humboldt County, Calif — Search crews have recovered the bodies of a mother and her two children days after their vehicle crashed into the Klamath River.

According to the California Highway Patrol, a vehicle driven by 30-year-old Elizabeth Ann Palmer was traveling on CA-96 between Hoopa and Orleans Sunday evening. Passengers in the vehicle included 41-year-old Jose Paredes Chaves and Palmer’s 4-year-old and 18-month-old daughters.

For unknown reasons, the vehicle crashed down a 500-800 foot embankment, coming to rest in the Klamath River, according to CHP. Chaves was able to get out of the vehicle and reach help, but the vehicle was swept away by the river with Palmer and her daughters still inside. They are presumed dead.

Chaves was in an area hospital Monday afternoon in unknown condition.

On Wednesday, CHP said the vehicle has been located in the water near milepost 41.

CHP said the bodies of Palmer and her two daughters were recovered along with the vehicle on Thursday.

A GoFundMe for the three victims has been set up by Palmer’s sister: https://www.gofundme.com/funeral-for-liz-and-her-two-girls

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