Search For Missing Bay Area Hiker Ends In Tragedy

Search and rescue crews have recovered the body of a 40-year-old Bay Area woman who had been missing since Friday after going for a hike along the Codfish Falls Trail, authorities said.

The woman was found in the north fork of the American River following a four-day search by land, air, and water involving multiple agencies. She was identified as Eryn VanAcker.

“This outcome is not what anyone hoped for,” the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Our deepest condolences are with Eryn’s family, friends, and loved ones.”

VanAcker was last seen around 2:30 p.m. Friday hiking near the North Fork American River with her dog. She was reported missing later that day after her dog was found wandering the trail alone.

Search and rescue teams with the Placer County Sheriff’s Office began looking for VanAcker around 6 p.m. Friday. That night, deputies located the woman’s vehicle in the area. Her phone and a dog bowl were also found along the river, according to the sheriff's office.

VanAcker's family, from Pennsylvania, stayed nearby during the search, the manager of Bright Vacation Rentals, Kelly Bright, told Patch.

Authorities believe that VanAcker entered the river and was swept away upstream from Lake Clementine. A dive team and boats searched the river, while drones and other air crew surveyed the area where she was last seen. A video during the search shows the swift currents especially strong during the recent storms.

"Please keep Eryn’s loved ones in your thoughts during this incredibly difficult time," the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said.