A 37-year-old man survived after his Honda Accord went off the Pacific Coast Highway and fell about 75 feet down a cliff. Somehow, he suffered only minor injuries.
The crash happened around 5:04 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, near Mugu Rock in Ventura County, California. The Honda landed on rocks along the shoreline with the driver still sitting behind the wheel.
When rescuers reached the car, the man was awake and able to speak. Firefighters removed him from the Honda before an ambulance took him to a nearby hospital.
CHP Ventura identified the vehicle as a gray 2006 Honda Accord. The driver, who is from Oxnard, was the only person inside.
The Driver Was Still Sitting Behind the Wheel
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The video shows rescuers working in the dark along the rocky shoreline. The Honda can be seen below the highway with major damage to its front end and roof.
Firefighters had to reach the vehicle and safely remove the driver. Despite the condition of the car and the long fall, CHP described his injuries as minor.
CHP Says the Honda Was Traveling at High Speed
Preliminary information and witness statements indicate that the Honda was traveling south at a high rate of speed as it approached Mugu Rock. CHP said the driver turned to the right for a reason that remains under investigation. The Honda left the highway, struck a rock and fell about 75 feet onto the shoreline.
Investigators have not determined whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash. Anyone with information is asked to contact the CHP Ventura Area office.
Another Car Went Over the Cliff 3 Days Earlier
The Sunday morning crash was the second time a vehicle went over the cliff near Mugu Rock in less than one week.
Around 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, another car left Pacific Coast Highway and landed on rocks near the water. The driver in that crash was an adult woman who was also alone.
ABC7 reported that state park rangers, lifeguards and county firefighters pulled her from the car and hoisted her back up the cliff. She was taken to a hospital, but her condition was not released. The cause of that crash also remains under investigation.