We are sad to report that Maria Fissman the woman extricated from the vehicle, did pass away from her injuries last night at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto.
Monika and Reiki are in stable condition. We send our thoughts and prayers to Maria's friends and family.
Thank you to Cal Fire-Groveland Hot Shots, Forest Service Fire, CHP, Ambulance Units-ground and air and Search and Rescue for their assistance in this rescue. Our thoughts and prayers are with these three ladies for a quick recovery.
Update: 6:00 P.M. The woman who was extricated from the vehicle is being stabilized while enroute to the Sonora Regional Medical Center where they will be met by the air ambulance. All three women sustained major traumatic injuries.
Update at 4:10 P.M.:
The last woman has been extricated out of the vehicle and is being taken to the landing zone for transportation.
Update: 1:55 P.M.
The vehicle and women have been located by the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Search and Rescue team, a half of a mile east of Buck Meadows off a steep embankment. They appeared to have been in an accident. Air ambulances are enroute to the scene for medical aid and transportation. One woman was trapped inside of the vehicle and one ejected. Reiki was able to get out on her own. Two have been medi flighted to Modesto hospitals and emergency crews are still on scene with the last patient.
August 23, 2016 - The Tuolumne County Sheriff Department reports last night around 9:30 P.M., the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office received a call from CHP about three overdue female tourists from Germany.
A deputy met with a group of seven German tourists at the Groveland Fire Department. Their group left San Francisco yesterday morning to spend the day in Yosemite. The ten of them rented five motorcycles and a GMC Yukon to drive to Yosemite.
Yesterday afternoon around 4:30 P.M., the group fueled up the vehicles at the gas station in Crane Flat, inside Yosemite National Park. They all agreed to meet in Groveland at 6:30 P.M., for dinner. The motorcycles left Crane Flat heading west on Hwy. 120, with the GMC Yukon following. The GMC failed to arrive in Groveland. CHP and Sheriff's Deputies searched Hwy. 120 from Groveland to Yosemite Valley and did not find the GMC. On Star was unable to ping the GMC, because it was out of range. Cell phone pings were also unsuccessful. A check of bank cards showed they had not been used.
The CHP H40 helicopter is flying over the area looking for the vehicle and the three women. Search and Rescue are also searching the area.
Their vehicle is a Black 2016 GMC Yukon, Ca lic. 7MWD624
Below are descriptions and pictures of the missing women. If you see them or their vehicle please call the Sheriff's Office at 209-533-5815.
Monika Shmidt- 63 Years old, 5”7”, 150 pounds, blond hairLast seen wearing blue pants and a white shirt
Maria Fissman- 57 Years old, 5’7”, 130 pounds, blond hair
Last seen wearing blue bathing suit and a turquoise bathing suit wrap.
Reiki Regel- 16 Years old, 5”4”, 120 pounds, brown hair
Last seen wearing blue jeans, a white Hard Rock Cafe shirt and a brown leather jacket.
Source: Tuolumne County Sheriff Department
