Sal Hernandez, Brett Beattie die during camping trip

Services for Sal Hernandez, owner of S & H Tree Service, set for Feb. 26

Two Ramona men were found dead on Sunday, Feb. 17, in a trailer in the Southeast Sand Dunes area, according to the Imperial County Sheriff’s office Coroner Division.

Sal Hernandez, 43, and Brett Beattie, 26, were camping in a “box” trailer that is typically used to haul off-road vehicles in the Gordon’s Well/Buttercup area, said Sgt. Thomas Garcia with the coroner’s office.

Garcia said the Ramona men brought a grill with lit charcoal into the trailer the night of Feb. 16 to stay warm. Their bodies were discovered the next morning by other people they were camping with, said Garcia.

The Imperial County Coroner’s office has performed autopsies and is waiting for the toxicology reports, he said.

Hernandez, a certified arborist, owned S & H Tree Service in Ramona.

A memorial service is planned for Hernandez at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 26, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, with burial following at Nuevo Memory Gardens, according to Bonham Brothers and Stewart Mortuary.

No information was available about services for Beattie when the Sentinel went to press on Tuesday.