OC Woman Pulled From Santa Ana River Identified As Mother Of Two

SANTA ANA, CA — An Orange County mother has been identified as the woman whose body was pulled from the Santa Ana River on New Year's Day, according to multiple reports.

Alejandra Ramirez Torres, 39, a mother of two daughters ages 11 and 16 was identified by the coroner's office, as first reported by the Los Angeles Times and a GoFundMe page created by her family.

"This sudden and heartbreaking loss has deeply affected our family, and we are doing everything we can to support Alejandra’s girls as they face an uncertain future without their mother," wrote Michelle Flores Norman, the organizer of the fundraiser.

The river's fast-moving current, intensified by the ongoing storm, swept Ramirez Torres from Santa Ana to Fountain Valley before it she was retrieved by fire crews.

Just before noon on Thursday, a 911 caller reported a person in the Santa Ana River bed near the intersection of Warner Avenue and Harbor Boulevard, according to the Orange County Fire Authority.

The Orange County fire department, along with the Fountain Valley Fire Department and the Costa Mesa Fire Department, dispatched approximately 60 firefighters to the scene to pull Ramirez Torres from the water.

So far, at least $8,269 of a $15,000 goal has been raised to help support her family.

"We are raising funds to help cover the costs of Alejandra’s funeral and to provide immediate support for her daughters," Norman wrote. "These funds will go directly toward funeral expenses, daily living needs, and future necessities to ensure the girls have stability and care during this incredibly difficult time. Every contribution will help ease the financial burden and allow us to focus on supporting Alejandra’s daughters as they navigate this new reality."

It remains unclear how Ramirez Torres was swept away by the Santa Ana River.