Skip to content

Border Blogs & News

Blogs and news from the borders of America.

Menu
  • Home
  • El Paso News
Menu

Border Report – Woman dies after suspected smuggling boat capsizes in Ocean Beach

Posted on February 5, 2025

The video above was broadcast on Jan. 25, 2025.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A suspected smuggling boat that capsized off the coast of Ocean Beach last month resulted in the death of a woman onboard.


‘A body may wash up’: Suspected smuggling boat capsizes in Ocean Beach

Maribel Merino Bernardo, 57, of Mexico, was identified as the person who died from drowning, the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office said on its website.

On the morning of Jan. 25, a call came in about an overturned vessel inside the surf in the area of Abbott Street and Saratoga Avenue, according to the San Diego-Fire Rescue Department.

When authorities arrived on scene, they found Bernardo, as well as others trapped within the capsized boat near the Ocean Beach Pier. Between 20 and 30 people were dispersed in the water.


Arrests made in connection to series of fires in San Diego, police say

Bernardo was removed from the boat and found unresponsive. She was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Fire officials confirmed some people walked up on the beach on their own while others were rescued by lifeguards.

Another suspected smuggling boat came onshore near Scripps Pier that same morning, but when lifeguards and fire personnel responded, no one was located at the scene.

 Read: Read More 

Recent Posts

  • KTSM News – County Courthouse to get new microwave dish to enhance connectivity
  • KTSM News – Mexico soccer legend Luis ‘El Matador’ Hernandez to take market tour in El Paso
  • KTSM News – Business owners in far East El Paso say Montana construction hurts them
  • KTSM News – El Paso officials urge families to vaccinate kids ahead of 1st day of school
  • KTSM News – Probe into Sun Metro fire complete; debris removal continues

El Paso News

El Paso News delivers independent news and analysis about politics and public policy in El Paso, Texas. Go to El Paso News

Politico Campaigns

Are you a candidate running for office? Politico Campaigns is the go-to for all your campaign branding and technology needs.

Go to Politico Campaigns

Custom Digital Art

My name is Martín Paredes and I create custom, Latino-centric digital art. If you need custom artwork for your marketing, I'm the person to call. Check out my portfolio

© Martín Paredes