Additional Coverage:
- California man falls 500 feet off major highway in horror death (irishstar.com)
A 58-year-old man tragically lost his life Monday after his vehicle veered off California’s famous coastal Highway 1 and plunged over a cliff with a drop of approximately 500 feet, authorities reported.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) stated that the man, a Santa Rosa resident, was driving a black 2017 Honda Pilot southbound near Scott Creek, just south of the Bay Area. The exact speed of the vehicle before the accident has not been disclosed.
According to CHP, the vehicle left the west edge of the roadway for reasons still under investigation. It struck a call box, continued through vegetation in a southwesterly direction, and ultimately went over the cliff.
The crash site was just south of Greyhound State Beach in Santa Cruz County. The driver sustained severe injuries from the fall.
Two lifeguards from California State Parks swam from the beach to a small pocket beach where the vehicle had landed. They found the man and immediately performed CPR.
Emergency response teams, including a CAL FIRE Helitack Copter, arrived on scene. The helicopter lowered a hoist basket in an effort to airlift the man back to the highway, where an ambulance awaited. Despite these efforts, the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
Multiple agencies responded to the incident, including personnel from CAL FIRE, Santa Cruz County Fire, San Mateo County Fire, CAL FIRE SCU, Santa Cruz City Fire, CHP-Santa Cruz, and California State Parks.
CHP confirmed that it is still unknown whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash.
In a statement, CHP Captain Boles, commander of the Santa Cruz Area office, urged motorists to drive safely, emphasizing the importance of adhering to speed limits, avoiding distractions, wearing seatbelts, and never driving under the influence.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the driver’s family and friends,” the statement added.
The CHP is seeking any witnesses or individuals with information about the crash to contact their dispatch unit. Further details regarding the victim’s identity have not been released.
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- California man falls 500 feet off major highway in horror death (irishstar.com)