In what Northern California first responders are calling a miracle, 4 individuals survived an unimaginable single-vehicle crash after a Tesla dove off a cliff alongside the Pacific Coast Freeway Monday morning.
A 4-year-old lady, a 9-year-old boy and two adults suffered severe accidents after the sedan they have been using in plunged a whole bunch of ft off a cliff alongside State Route 1 close to Satan’s Slide – an space identified for deadly wrecks, officers with Coastside Fireplace Safety District/Cal Fireplace reported.
The automobile apparently flipped a couple of instances earlier than touchdown on its wheels, wedged in opposition to the cliff simply ft from the surf, Brian Pottenger, a battalion chief with the company, mentioned on the scene.
On Monday afternoon, Cal Fireplace San Mateo’s Santa Cruz Unit shared a video letting drivers within the space know that the automobile went over the cliff and there could be delays alongside the coastal roadway.
The victims have been initially listed in crucial situation however all 4 have been aware and alert when rescuers arrived.
The Tesla plummeted greater than 250 ft from the freeway and crashed right into a rocky outcropping, officers mentioned. Pottenger mentioned the automobile flipped a number of instances earlier than touchdown on its wheels, wedged in opposition to the cliff simply ft from the surf.
Greater than 65K mourn Benedict XVI:Pope emeritus lies in state at Vatican this week; funeral is Thursday
Neither CAL Fireplace nor the California Freeway Patrol might instantly be reached for remark by USA TODAY Tuesday morning for an replace on the victims’ circumstances.
Officers didn’t present the victims’ names or say the place they’re from.
Crashes alongside Satan’s Slide, a steep, rocky and winding coastal space about 20 miles south of San Francisco between Pacifica and Montara, hardly ever finish with survivors.
“We go there on a regular basis for vehicles over the cliff they usually by no means dwell. This was an absolute miracle,” Pottenger mentioned.
A brand new ‘Star’ is born:Bulldog takes house 2022 AKC Nationwide Championship’s prime prize
Watching by binoculars
Pottenger mentioned witnesses known as 911 at 10:15 a.m. and responding crews arrange a rope system from the freeway to decrease firefighters down the cliff.
On the identical time, he mentioned, different firefighters watching the sedan by binoculars instantly observed motion – an indication that at the least one individual was nonetheless alive.
“Each certainly one of us was shocked after we noticed motion out of the entrance windshield,” Pottenger mentioned.
The incident turned from what had been probably a restoration of our bodies to a rescue operation that took a number of hours amid fixed rain, heavy winds, slick roads and crashing waves. The doorways have been smashed in opposition to the cliff and jammed shut, so firefighters have been compelled to chop the victims out of the automobile utilizing the so-called “jaws of life” instruments.
Crews pulled the 2 youngsters out of the Tesla’s again window and introduced them up the cliff in a basket utilizing a rope. They have been rushed to the hospital by ambulance to be handled for musculoskeletal accidents, officers reported.
Based mostly on the California Freeway Patrol’s preliminary investigation, troopers don’t imagine the Tesla was working in Autopilot or Full Self-Driving mode on the time, Officer Mark Andrews mentioned.
The highway’s circumstances have been additionally not believed to be an element within the crash. There was no guardrail on the spot the place the sedan went off the cliff.
“The automobile traveled off the principle portion of the roadway. For what motive, we don’t know,” Andrews mentioned.
Contributing: The Related Press
Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending information for USA TODAY. Attain her at nalund@usatoday.com and comply with her on Twitter @nataliealund.