Queen's Elizabeth's Secret Service Crash Site & La Grange Dredge 

This show deserves more credit then it gets 😩☹️❤️

La Grange is my hometown...grew up on a ranch on Lake Road just outside of town....I know every inch of the town. Used to actually play on the dredge with my brother as kids. I remember the day and the crash, there were scrapes in the asphalt for a long time until the road was repaved. Eventually the curve was removed, as you know.... There are five generations of my ancestors and current family members buried in the cemetery behind the old school house

My grandpa worked the dredge. He was interviewed by Huell Howser.

How exciting for you Jeff, you were part of that history.

This is one of my favorites. Thank you Sara and Jeff. A t.v. Docu. shows the Sheriff was at blame for speeding. A witness driving behind him said he was speeding and would drift over the double white lines.

I remember visiting the gold dredge back in the late 70’s and early 80’s. We used to drive almost right to it before they put that gate up. I always wondered where that crash site was. I will be sure to stop and visit it next time. Thank you Sarah and Jeff for this video.

I remember the Queen's visit, but not the terrible car crash. But the one thing prominent in my memory of that chapter in California's history was hearing how terribly angry and frustrated the people were to learn that their vacation plans were destroyed after learning their room reservations were cancelled at the Ahwahnee Hotel because the Queen of England needed elbow room. GREAT VIDEO as usual, keep them coming.

I never had heard about Oueen Elizabeth's visit to California and the horrible automobile accident related that visit. So very interesting & news to me. I would have loved to have seen the Oueen of England. 🇬🇧 I am happy that you had the opportunity. Loved Michael Landon and his series Highway to Heaven! Thank you for sharing your memories with us. Blessings from Eastern Tennessee. 🙂🙋

I remember watching a show that examined this crash to sort out what happened and who was at fault. Was just so sad. Makes you think, one moment life is good and moving on, the next you're no longer here. Live life while you can! I enjoyed the little scene at the end. ;)

Great video! I think I remember the story. A tragic strange circumstance. When I'm in a place where people have died I have deep thoughts about them and what happened there. The gold dredge was cool. Back then they could just walk away from large machinery like that. Hey, be careful in places like that.

My husband and I have been watching your history films all day. We really enjoy you and Sarah. She is funny and cute as a button. Love you both. God bless.

Wow… thanks for risking life and limb to show us the dredge.. I was seriously worried when you went down into that hole to check for gold !! It all looks so sketchy! Glad your head wound wasn’t worse ! Ouch! Great video.. good job!! And then you still went back to finish up! Thanks for that! Also , I know this video was yrs ago.. interesting to see how your channel has evolved .. no more stranger guy doing the intros ! Like the early videos where you and Sarah go over the next episode on the back patio.. the banter w you two is cute !

Jeff, Sarah that was an awesome video!!! Been through La Grange so many times, wife’s mother lived up above golf course in Don Pedro, been down to the dredge multiple times, climbed aboard it, father in law went to go aboard it slipped and slid all the way down the slope, scared me to death “ how am I going to get him out? He wasn’t hurt, just he’s pride. Jeff, thank you once again for the history lesson! When the office of the courier was downtown, I always wanted to go and meet you, my loss. Looking forward to your next trips!!!

Thanks Jeff and Sara I’ve seen this video before the queen died but I felt the need to pull it up again thank you again for the great job on this video you did. I was at Castle Air Force Base today the queen arrived I was there with my mother the most exciting day of my life. And now the queen and my mom are having tea together in heaven I can’t wait till I get to have with them!

Hello Jeff I used to live in Coulterville when that crash happened I know exactly all of the spots where that happened as far as the gold dredge I petitioned to try and save the gold dredge it didn't happen however I used to fish off of the deck of that gold dredge and caught many bluegill which became dinner later on thank you again I really appreciate what you bring back to life a part of my life of long ago I cherish and Miss to this day the crash of the Secret Service would have never happened had they been driving responsible speeds it was said because of the conditions of the road they were driving way too fast for the conditions and should have slowed down and that would have never happened there were many blind curves on that road in those days and they should have taken heed to the conditions of the road thank you again have a wonderful day and many more days to follow I do appreciate this stuff it does bring back old memories some of it bad some of it good at this stage in my life it's all good good thank you and God bless also at the time you were standing on the porch of that grocery store it was owned by friends of mine who were named Jerry and Jerry that were owners of the store at that time and very good friends of mine

Great video, I didn't know all this about La Grange and the Queen or the dredge. I think this is my favorite video of yours so far. Have you done anymore videos on La Grange's history?

Great job Jeff! Thanks for all the videos.

I had forgotten this piece of history that I know I saw on the news. Thanks!

Love Sarahs pic , she looks absolutely gorgeous!!! at the end of this very interesting video. !!! Loved it Didn't know the Queen even came then...thanks for sharing that history !!!

Wow, shows you how clueless I was back then, I didn't know anything about that. Thank you, both for bringing us up to speed! Please keep up the good work!!🤯👌👍

Omigosh! I had no idea this happened! I am too young to remember it, but I’m shocked it isn’t discussed more often on history shows. Thanks for sharing this story! P.S. Sorry you got hurt Jeff!

Love Jeff and Sarah love history hunters! Your number one fan Lou Martell

Hi Sarah and Jeff. I vaguely remember this debacle. What a disaster that was set before the Queen. Great story you two. Your head injury looked so painful. Talk about giving it all for the channel.

Jeff, Sarah I vaguely remember this. 1983 was the year I was taking care of my Grandmother and Mother and wasn't watching much news by the 7th of March 1983, I was way too busy taking care of my two family members. Thank you two for filling me in on what happened that day in history with the now deceased Queen Elizabeth I I. I just caught a glimpse of your accident on the dredge; please be careful.

I lived in Mariposa county when this happened. I was a senior in high School. I will never forget it.

Great job! I love the Lagrange area. It’s been many years since I’ve been to the dredge, time to go back. I had no idea about the queen.

I was here at Yosemite Park with fellow Mabininian from the province of Bohol. We came from Stockton , going east till we arrived at Angels Camp in our way to beautiful Yosimete Park. We paid entrance fee of 20$ to hen we proceed right at the foot of Yosemite. There were so many people walking , jogging , horse back riding. When we enter the park highway patrol is keep on watching every in @ out of the park. The view are fashinating , cliffs, valley with formation of rocks filed were so amazing. A beautiful park I ever visit in my lifetime.

I remember this incident VERY well. I was in the Command Post with the Secret Service as they lost communications with the vehicle. The vehicle and its agents were doing a sweep of the route to the park. Another crew was sent down the route and found the wreck. They reported that everyone was dead. The command post was quiet and a few of the regularly somber secret service agents broke down with the news that many of their close associates had been killed. The queens route was changed so she would not go past the wreck.

Spent two and a half years at Castle AFB, 76>78. So left the state before this happened. Heard about the Queen going to Yosemite by way of Castle, but didn't know about the pass through La Grange. Personally passed thru La Grange a couple of times, but never stopped. Had I known about the dredge, I would have made it a destination! Love your vids.

Keeping the past alive, great channel

This is really interesting, I don't remember any of this happening. Really good video, thanks for sharing.

Tragic history, but neat that you were a part of it. I didn’t even know about this accident. Thanks for sharing

Your videos are awesome and Sarah is way cool!

No one mentioned weather or not anyone was wearing a seat belt? If not, an eerie foreshadowing of the car crash in Paris that killed the Princess of Wales nearly 15 years later

How interesting your history and a history video together. You are right in the intro 'History in not boring'. Thank you both. Best wishes

I was there last week on a bike ride ill be going again next weekend but riding a little slower now so I can take in all this history.. thanks for the lesson

😮 this is the most dangerous episode of History Hunters that I have watched. Hope your head wound was not too serious, Jeff. A very sad episode for those who lost their lives. RIP!

Awesome find...the piece of plastic and exploring that dredge would be a high for me.!!!!

Well done as usual.

Great episode. Last time I was at the dredge was back in 09.

I have been all over the La Grange area, I worked at a few of the gold mines around the Mariposa area, the Mt. Gaines, but I never stopped and looked at the dredge.

Ronnie Reagan is my favourite American President.It is hard to believe that a modern motor can travel further in 30 minutes than a chuck wagon travelled in six weeks in the early days of settlement.RIP to the three secret service agents who gave their lives protecting the Queen and the President.

Love your content! Not the overly long, slick, intro!

You are more adventurous than me! Great video as usual. This video and the one on the cemetery in Yosemite have made me more interested in the area.

The deputy sheriff was driving 64 mph , twice the posted limit for that curve!

OMG I live so close to the crash site!!!! Never heard about an old dredge... and that was a Canadian Dredge Owl. Tx Tx

Jeff, at least 3 weeks ago, I just wanted to let you know, that my husband & I visited La Grange, I did not go by and see the gold dredge, (it was so hot, out there), however, we did visit the Trading Post Museum there, and I got to see, the old school house, that was built, in the 1800 's, it was awesome, apparently, they used that school house as a church, at one time. However, there is a catholic church, and cemetary, directly, across from it, and a prodistant cemetary, (some yards away, on the side of the school house), which my husband & I went into. I also, had no idea, that there, are really, (appoximately) 150 in population there, I asked the guy, managing the Trade Post Museum this. Thought you might like to know.

Great video as usual :) Thankyou

what a super great research video jeff,great cal.history.

I love your channel and wish more videos were done in the factual way you do them. My only request (if I'm allowed?) is more videos like this one. This and the ones about the patrolmen killed in Newhall, and the plane crash videos, I'd like more of those. The morbid ones haha. Regardless, I will still watch each one you put out.

Sad story, fascinating history.

Great history Jeff! This is the kind of stuff I like thank you!. Anything on Bonnie and Clyde?

I know just where it happened. Family owned a houseboat on Don Pedro then and we've been down every road and in every town in this video...love your videos!

I remember a little bit about this story. I have long felt a simple small cross should be allowed, perhaps with a number code to allow research of the person and/or situation.

LOVED it! That ole dredge reminds me of #TonyBeets from Goldrush tv show

Very interesting coverage of that tragic incident in 1983. Too bad Debbie Downer thinks it's "boring".

It's fascinating how a machine that large was in service for 100+years. Wherever I'm at that's pretty old always gets me thinking about the people who worked or lived at the destination, and what it was like to live back then

This is very good , i remember reading about that accident when it took place .. I never knew anymore than what the news report said .. You covered detail very well .. Now i know how it unfolded .. Those old monster Dredges are something to see and visit .. Myself i wouldn't want to go on one to look around , dangerous because of their age and condition .. Lots of them in Alaska .. Now when it comes to coverage you did the right thing , you used your Drone which produced pretty cool footage and covered it very well , more so than on the ground .. I like the idea of using a drone for my view that i see that's pretty darn good..Really one gets to see the big picture it's well worth it .. very well done ..

How many pictures did you manage to take on that day? It must've been exciting getting coverage from such a devastating accident!

Love your videos. I was wondering what city do you guys live in? I grew up in Merced and have been thru La Grange many times. Keep up the good work!

Awesome video and Crazy . OH NO , safe you two

Great job.

I've been binge watching you & Sarah. Your videos are high quality. Jeff has replaced the late Huell Howser! I'd watch him everyday at 1:00 on pbs. I think your storytelling & professional editing is good enough to be on PBS. ❤ Love your Cemetary hunting stories of The Daltons & Black Bart. If you contacted the book authors, could you both hold a public appearance & talk about the hunting using the Authors. Have a table set up to sell merch to support your channel.... Downstairs at Midesto library they used to hold meetings & public seating would be great to have a Meet n' Greet with you & book Authors Just an idea if it happens I will be there

Hey, that was great. Glad your head is ok.

Sworn in as a Clamper years ago @ The Dredge.💪🏻🎩

Nice video. My Great Grandfather, Hubert G Kumle was the Superintendent of the La Grange Gold Dredge Co. From 1918 till about 1930. He started his own Company and operated in Clements then Knights Ferry until WWII shut them down. He is mentioned in Quest for Deep Gold I think. My Grandmother probably went to school in the one room school in the video. Their house was at the south end of the old steel bridge. It is gone now though. I believe the dredge still there belonged to the Tuolumne Gold Dredge Co.

This dredge is like the one in Sumpter Oregon mabey built by the same company, you can explore it by ourself or a guided tour. Hopefully you can make it to Sumpter in Eastern Oregon for a history hunt someday.

Loved the video. Read about Queen's visit and related happenings in Cheri Seymour's book The Last Circle. We live in Sonora - a field trip is in order - haven't been to La Grange in a long time. Subscribed to your channel.

I remember when that happened. So very sad

Interesting! Loved this video! Great history. I was in Oklahoma in 83’ only 23 years old. Today is the first day I heard about the tragic story! I was hoping that was a real gold nugget too 🤔

Hope you are ok. Sorry you got hurt. Be more careful!

Never knew that one of those killed was from my hometown of Newark, NJ ! R.I.P. to the dead !

Thank you....

Great video!!!

I was working on a power plant in Lagrange that day I saw the queen go by.

One of the coolest local stories

I was in my senior year at Fred C. Beyer high school when this happened.

I remember going there as a family. I thought it was great fun! There was not a fence there at the times we went.

I remember I lived around the corner from the wreck and the car was left by the bus stop area

I have a friend who was born and raised in Mariposa, CA. He says the Mariposa deputy who slammed into the queen's motorcade was sent only to slow them down. The small local airport was loading some "sensitive" cargo to be flown out at the same time the queen was due to arrive ( with FEDERAL agents ). I guess it was a case of "bad timing" on behalf of the powers that be.

I was just thinking how dangerous that place was and that you could get hurt and you did! You and Sarah should stay out of there.

The CHP was trying to blame accident on the Sheriff Deputy. He was facing some serious charges with the terrible accident and deaths that occurred. A fine lawyer and family friend named Charles Brunn (R.I.P) hired some investigators to research the evidence and use some early forensics to determine the cause. Evidence exonerated the Sheriff Deputy and cleared him of the accused crimes. Details included in Forensic Files, Season 8, Episode 40.

I remember this as a kid in California. It was same month and year my brother was killed. Both incidences made me realize how real death was. Our parents died and we got adopted together. I learned death the easy way at an early age. It's never easy.

Great video! and you started walking around that dredge I said you was going to walk hit your head! And this mom was not wrong! Did you get stitches? I think that was a piece of the car.

Just happen to came across this video I just moved to la grange 2yrs ago

As High Schoolers we had parties there 4 to 5 times a summer...great memories.

I would like to see Lagrange again , had a good bit of fun there year's ago. Is that dredge back towards Snelling? I've seen it before from the road only. Good video Thanks

Despite the terrible tragedy, I hope the Queen had a nice visit here in United States. 🙂

Hey Jeff do you own a drone? Those were pretty cool drone photos! And this vlog was fantastic!

This narrator is great- why doesn't he make any videos anymore? Very well-trained voice.

Sarah is funny

Love the Queen's humor

That curve has been called dead man’s curve since

Two great people President Reagan and Queen Elizabeth especially when you look what we have now!

I love history, come to Vermont and I'll go history hunting with you.lol

I love all your videos.. Was wondering where you were .. Might want to keep a hard hat in your car 😎 but glad you are ok!

Kinda like the old McDonals barge from Expo 86 that's been sitting around rotting away

Watching some older videos 👍

Growing up in Mariposa county, I was in high school when this happened. Later on, I talked with Deputy Sinclair about the wreck. It was something else than what the news made it out to be.

just read about this supposedly the road is now haunted even though you dont believe in that sort of thing must have been a horrible sight