Underhill died of accidental drug overdose

Lake Valley firefighter Brandon Underhill died from an “accidental multiple drug overdose,” according to El Dorado County sheriff’s Lt. Pete Van Arnum.

The exact drugs are not being released, but Van Arnum said, “It was all basically prescription drugs.”

Underhill had been on leave from the department at the time of his Sept. 29 death because of a back injury. He had worked for Lake Valley since 2005.

Based on the amount of drugs in his system and speaking to family and friends, it was determined the overdose was accidental. He was 34.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report