Man Dies of Heat Exhaustion on Off-Road Vehicle Jaunt

An Azusa man died of heat exhaustion after he and his brother spent the day riding their off-road vehicles Friday in Lockwood Valley, authorities said.

Steven Swinehart, whose 35th birthday was Saturday, had gone to the popular riding spot about 50 miles north of Ventura with his brother, Michael, said senior Sheriff’s Deputy Chuck Buttell.

They arrived Friday about noon, Buttell said.

“They were riding around and Steven Swinehart became exhausted and dehydrated,” Buttell said. His brother tried to ride out of the valley but was overcome by the heat, estimated to be in the 80s, and ended up walking out, Buttell said.

Michael Swinehart contacted the Kern County Sheriff’s Department about 9:20 p.m., and that office contacted deputies in Ventura County.

A search was launched about 10 minutes later.

At daybreak Saturday, a Ventura County sheriff’s helicopter was called in to help with the search.

Soon after, Steven Swinehart was found and taken by helicopter to Ventura County Medical Center.

A spokesman for the medical examiner’s office said the cause of death was heat exhaustion.