Vehicle Goes Off Cliff Along Highway 1; Three Occupants Reportedly Flee Scene

A vehicle reportedly went off a cliff along Highway 1 in Mendocino County shortly before 9:40 p.m. today, July 15, according to the California Highway Patrol Traffic Incident Information Page.

The crash was reported in the 7600 block of State Route 1 near Van Damme State Beach and the Little River Bridge south of the town of Mendocino. Initial reports to CHP indicated a caller heard a vehicle crash and flip before it went off the right side of the highway and down toward the beach. The vehicle reportedly came to rest on land near the water. The

According to information relayed to CHP, the vehicle had allegedly been speeding and crossing the double yellow lines before the crash. Three men, described in the incident log as appearing to be in their 20s, reportedly got out of the vehicle and left the area on foot. A subsequent report stated that another vehicle, described as an SUV, may have picked them up and headed northbound.

The CHP log indicated that all of the vehicle’s occupants appeared to be out of the vehicle following the crash. The collision also damaged a guardrail, which was reportedly folded into the southbound lane, with additional guardrail debris in the roadway.

Cal Fire was notified of the incident and updated as additional information became available.

The CHP initially classified the incident as a traffic collision with unknown injuries. However, by 10:08 p.m., the CHP log stated that the and ambulance was responding to the scene.

Information in the CHP incident log is preliminary and subject to change as responding agencies investigate.