Lucky driver is rescued after his minivan plunges more than 130 feet off California cliff

A minivan driver drove his vehicle more than 130 feet off a northern California cliff and into the Pacific ocean on Friday, but managed to survive.

The unidentified man was taken to a hospital with hypothermia after the van went off the scenic Highway 1, which hugs the ocean in Montara State Beach south of San Francisco.

He had escaped the wreckage by the time rescuers arrived and then walked on rocks to a first-responder who rappelled down to him, authorities said.

A lucky driver miraculously survived after his minivan plunged more than 130 feet off a northern California cliff

Lucky escape: The unidentified man was taken to the hospital with hypothermia symptoms 

Lucky escape: The unidentified man was taken to the hospital with hypothermia symptoms 

He was the only occupant of van, said California Highway Patrol Officer Vu Williams.

Images from KGO-TV showed the firefighter rappel down the cliff and reach the man as he stood among rocks, with the wrecked vehicle nearby pummeled by waves.

The man walked to the firefighter, was put in a harness, lifted up the cliff, put on a stretcher and taken away by an ambulance.

Williams said the cause of the crash was not determined but that the minivan had been traveling south when it went onto the highway’s shoulder and then plunged off the cliff in a hilly area known as Devil’s Slide because of its propensity for rock slides.

Rescue crews said they were not able to communicate with the man either because of a language barrier or his hypothermia.

The driver had escaped the wreckage by the time rescuers arrived and walked 

He then walked on rocks to a first-responder who rappelled down to him

The driver had escaped the wreckage by the time rescuers arrived and walked nd then walked on rocks to a first-responder who rappelled down to him

Rescuer told local media they couldn't speak to the survivor either because of a language barrier or his hypothermia 

Rescuer told local media they couldn’t speak to the survivor either because of a language barrier or his hypothermia 

The California Highway Patrol said the incident is under investigation but appears to have been caused by driver error – alcohol and drugs were not involved. 

It marked the third time over the last month that a vehicle has gone off a cliff in Northern California.

About 250 miles north, an SUV carrying a family on vacation was seen last week plunging into a storm-swollen river in Mendocino County.

The four members of the Thottapilly family have not been recovered from the Eel River but searchers located numerous items along the banks consistent with the vehicle and items consistent with a family traveling on vacation, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.

 The California Highway Patrol said the incident is under investigation but appears to have been caused by driver error

 The California Highway Patrol said the incident is under investigation but appears to have been caused by driver error

The minivan was completely submerged under water by the time rescue efforts were over

The minivan was completely submerged under water by the time rescue efforts were over

Farther south along the Mendocino County coast, authorities continue to look for members of a family missing since an SUV made a deadly and possibly intentional plunge off a towering ocean bluff along Highway 1 last month.

Sarah and Jennifer Hart and their six adopted children were believed to be in the family’s SUV at the time. Five bodies were found March 26. 

A body was pulled out of the surf last weekend but was not immediately identified.

This incident marked the third time over the last month that a vehicle has gone off a cliff in Northern California. The bodies of the Thottapilly family have not been recovered from the Eel River but searchers located numerous items along the banks consistent with their vehicle

This incident marked the third time over the last month that a vehicle has gone off a cliff in Northern California. The bodies of the Thottapilly family have not been recovered from the Eel River but searchers located numerous items along the banks consistent with their vehicle

Authorities continue to look for members of the Hart family who have been missing since an SUV made a deadly and possibly intentional plunge off a towering ocean bluff last month. From left to right: Hannah, Abigail, Sierra, Jeremiah, Jennifer, Devonte, Markis and Sarah Hart

Authorities continue to look for members of the Hart family who have been missing since an SUV made a deadly and possibly intentional plunge off a towering ocean bluff last month. From left to right: Hannah, Abigail, Sierra, Jeremiah, Jennifer, Devonte, Markis and Sarah Hart



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