Driver killed after vehicle plunges off Highway 1 cliff in Santa Cruz County
A Sonoma County man has died after his vehicle plunged over a cliff off Highway 1 in Santa Cruz County on Monday, authorities said.
The California Highway Patrol initially reported the crash at 1:31 p.m. north of the Scott Creek Bridge. Cal Fire's San Mateo-Santa Cruz unit said on social media at 2:36 p.m. on Monday that the vehicle went over a cliff about 400 to 500 feet down just south of Greyhound Rock Beach.
Multiple agencies responded to the rescue effort, including a Cal Fire helicopter and units from Santa Cruz County Fire, San Mateo County Fire, Santa Cruz City Fire, and CHP Santa Cruz. Cal Fire said California State Parks lifeguards swam from Greyhound State Beach CA State Parks with lifeguards and AMR responded.
Two CA State Parks lifeguards swam from Greyhound Rock Beach to the area where the vehicle was located, found one victim, and administered CPR, Cal Fire said. The helicopter crew lowered a hoist basket to the beach and pulled the driver to the highway to an awaiting ambulance, the agency said.
In an update Monday evening, the Santa Cruz office of the California Highway Patrol said the driver of a black 2017 Honda Pilot SUV traveled off the edge of the road, struck a call box and drove through vegetation before going over the cliff. Despite life-saving measures, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver has been identified as a 58-year-old man from Santa Rosa. His name has not been released.
It was not immediately known whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash. Anyone with information is asked to contact CHP Santa Cruz at 831-796-2160.
