Mom, kids rescued as BMW teeters on SoCal bridge

BUELLTON, Calif. - A mother and her two daughters have been rescued from a BMW teetering on a California freeway bridge after a gravel truck rear-ended the car then plunged into a creek, killing the trucker.

The Santa Barbara News Press says the truck hit the 36-year-old woman's BMW on Thursday afternoon in the northbound lanes of U.S. Route 101 in rural Buellton, about 25 miles north of Santa Barbara.

The BMW struck the bridge railing and teetered over a 100-foot drop into the creek with Kelli Groves and two daughters, ages 10 and 10 months, trapped inside.

The San Juan Capistrano family was pulled out of their demolished car an hour later. They are hospitalized.

The trucker died when his rig crashed into the creek and burst into flames.

CBS affiliate KCOY reports that the California Highway Patrol has identified the victim as 48-year-old Charles Allison.

[cabungirl]

UPDATES: CHP estimated the truck driver to be speeding in excess of 75 MPH (they apparently have ways of measuring these things on scene) as he tried to negotiate the turn, the empty rear end of the vehicle swung around violently, taking out most of the bridge side rail and concrete, about 100 linear feet I'm told. The tail end of his truck is what launched the BMW, and the car came to rest teetering over the edge. The big rig plunged down into the creek bed below and burst into flames. The rescue crews could not access the BMW vehicle until it was stabilized. They used rescue ropes and fortunately for them, a Seabee unit was driving southbound and helped stabilize the vehicle with a giant forklift. This allowed them to use their ladders to access the vehicle.

[Krashusmc]

I think they should check the mother's cell phone records and make sure she wasn't using cell phone and cut off the semi driver, which caused him to lock the brakes, go into this skid, and crashing to his death.

[pak31]

To CBS: The infant is 10 WEEKS old not 10 months.

[gdinsb]

Why is it assumed the truck "rear-ended" the car? Couldn't the car have "cut off" the truck? It's not like they're quoting eye-witnesses here. For every insane truck driver I saw in CA, there were at least as many aggressive and/or oblivious SUV drivers. Not that it matters in the end. It's just sensationalistic to play up the rogue truck driver running down women and children angle.

[pak31]

If the truck hit her car from behind then it is considered rear ending, regardless of whose fault it is.

[Danize]

BMW? Is that Merkel at the wheel, the EU in the back seat? Bad joks. So glad everything turned out well for them.

[HiMyNamesChris]

BMW, BMW, BMW, teetering, BMW, BMW, young mother, BMW trapped BMW, BMW.


Oh and the truck plunged hundreds of feet, burst into flames, and killed the driver.

BMW.

[thoughtxchange2]

LOL. I noticed the same. Unsure why they focused on the fact it was a BMW. Seems like if it had been any other car they would have said "car". I have the same car as the one she was in - newer model but the same- guess I'm glad to see people came out alive (regardless of the car type obviously)- wondering if the BMW engineering helped- was part of the reason I bought mine.

[askagain]

This article is about a mother and her daughters who were rescued from a car teetering on the edge of a bridge. The truck driver, for whatever reason, rear-ended the car. Why are you angry that the truck driver didn't get more attention in this article. And your repeating "BMW, BMW, BMW" tells us a lot of your jealousy. What difference does it make if the car was a BMW, a Rolls Royce, or a Chevy? Certainly you aren't suggesting that the this accident happened or the article was published because the car is a BMW.

[venusvegasvada]

Wow! So lucky.

[babydriver57]

100 foot drop?
Which creek is that?

[gdinsb]

Not sure about 100 feet, but google map these coordinates: 34°35'30" N, 120°11'36" W . I never really noticed this bridge--it's a tiny span. Really tragic and unlucky to crash in that spot.

[DWileyOne]

This mother and her two children are truly blessed. I am so sorry for the truck driver and his family. Both a remarkable and tragic story.

[pak31]

nevwster1, so many times when you post you are so mean. Why is that? Why are you always trying to start trouble? I know you are angry that people believe or have the ability or guts to believe in God. Why can't you let them? If your attitude is how non believers are then count me out. I for one, looked at this story and thought the same thing DWileyOne did. I thought it was amazing that this woman came within inches to death,yet survived. I certainly would question how I survived that. I would look at life as precious and probably forever wonder why I and both my children were still alive. So yes, blessed they are because missing death by a fraction, having the people come to the rescue like this was amazing. Also, I have known people who are not rich that drove BMW's and who cares what she drove, if you could afford a really nice car you would not buy one? You would opt for a Ford Festiva instead? I doubt it.

[Testor1234]

WoW! The 'Force' was with them.

[queenofclubs]

I wonder why CBS is persisting on repeating the name of the vehicle. As though this accident would be less tragic if it were any other car than a BMW. A little perspective please, CBS....

[DenverBroncofan]

Get over yourself

[venusvegasvada]

Be that as it may, take a good look at that car.

It looks to me that if it were a lesser vehicle, smaller and with less handling or braking force, it may have gone right over.

jest sayin'