Vehicle falls 500 feet off towering cliff along California scenic roadway, killing one

Authorities said Tuesday that a conveyance plunged astir 500 feet disconnected a towering coastal cliff successful California, sidesplitting 1 idiosyncratic successful a harrowing clang on the state’s rugged shoreline.

The conveyance reportedly tumbled down the steep, rocky terrain successful Big Sur earlier coming to a halt conscionable abbreviated of the ocean.

"At astir 4:22 p.m. connected February 10, Monterey County exigency dispatchers received aggregate 911 calls reporting that a conveyance had gone disconnected the roadway and was believed to person entered the water," the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) said.  

The incident, which prompted hunt and rescue efforts by Big Sur Fire and MCSO, occurred on California’s cardinal coastline disconnected Highway 1 astatine the Hurricane Point scenic overlook, according to the authorities.

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Search and rescue unit unafraid ropes and presumption on the cliff’s borderline astatine Hurricane Point successful Big Sur, California, connected Feb. 10, 2026, arsenic portion of a multi-hour betterment operation. (Monterey Co Sheriff)

"Responding unit located the conveyance aft it had traveled implicit a cliff and came to remainder much than 500 feet beneath connected the rocks," officials said. "During the operation, rescuers located 1 occupant, who was pronounced deceased astatine the scene."

Sheriff Tina Nieto said the country was marked by harsh biology conditions, suggesting that upwind could person played a relation successful the fatal accident.

"Weather conditions made betterment efforts highly challenging," Nieto said. "Strong winds required our Search and Rescue unit to instrumentality further information precautions passim the operation."

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Search and rescue members assistance with betterment operations aft a conveyance went disconnected Highway 1 astatine Hurricane Point successful Big Sur, California, connected Feb. 10, 2026. ( Monterey Co Sheriff)

Big Sur typically sees a higher fig of rainy days successful February and is prone to landslides owed to wintertime storms. According to upwind forecasts, adjacent areas of the incidental were experiencing airy rainfall astatine the clip of the crash.

"We widen our condolences to the victim’s household during this hard time," Nieto added. 

After 4 hours of betterment efforts, authorities transferred the unfortunate to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office for identification.

Emergency crews respond to a conveyance that went disconnected Highway 1 astatine Hurricane Point successful Big Sur, California, connected Feb. 10, 2026. (Monterey Co Sheriff)

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The California Highway Patrol is investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Portions of Highway 1 successful Big Sur were closed earlier this twelvemonth aft a large landslide damaged the roadway. 

While the country had been scheduled to stay closed until March 30, proscription officials reopened the road successful mid-January aft stabilizing what they called "one of the state’s astir challenging slopes."