A driver was killed after plunging 500 feet of the edge of a cliff in scenic Big Sur Tuesday as storms swept through the area, police said. The unidentified motorist was driving along Highway 1 near Hurricane Point around 4:22 p.m. when the vehicle launched off the road, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Frantic 911 callers reported the incident, fearing the vehicle had fallen into the dangerous ocean below.
Members of the sherriff’s Search and Rescue Team, along with California Highway Patrol personnel and Big Sur Fire workers, located the vehicle more than 500 feet below the road on the craggy rocks below.
Rescuers discovered the car’s occupant, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The person’s identity was not disclosed.
Recovery efforts continued until about 8:45 p.m., when rescuers discovered the driver and pronounced the person dead at the scene.
The driver was taken to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office for identification and family notification.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto said bad weather made it very difficult for emergency workers to respond to the incident.
“Strong winds required our Search and Rescue personnel to take additional safety precautions throughout the operation,” Nieto said.
The portion of Highway 1 that winds along the Big Sur coastline through Big Sur is regarded as one of the most scenic driving routes in California. But the stretch is also home to a wet climate, dangerous cliffs and unstable soil.
Landslides closed portions of the road until January.
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