Sitting by his backyard pool Monday afternoon, Ed Hahn, 50, gazed peacefully at the Santa Ana mountains behind his home as he spoke of his son, who was killed while hiking with friends on the Santa Rosa Plateau.
"God took him ---- why, I don't know," Hahn said. "It was time for Andy to go."
The 17-year-old boy died Sunday after he jumped onto a huge boulder that broke loose, throwing him to the ground. The boulder, which police officials have described as being 10 to 12 feet in diameter, then rolled downhill, crushing the boy and killing him at the scene, Murrieta police officials said Monday.
Night was falling as Andy Hahn, his older brother, James, and two friends were hiking in a mountainous area near Copper Canyon Trail about a mile from the Hahns' residence. With daylight fading, the group decided to head home.
When Andy jumped on the boulder and it gave way, James and the friends were able to scramble to safety, said Murrieta Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Jennings, adding that he believes the boy died instantly.
The accident occurred about a mile from any road in a steep, narrow canyon, full of huge rocks and boulders. he said.
"Hiking up there, you are pushing the envelope," he said.
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/08/17/news/californian/8_16_0420_28_22.txt
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