A stunning new video shot by a passing motorist appears to show the moment a car plunged off a cliff Monday along Highway 1 near Gray Whale Cove State Beach in San Mateo County.
CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the video on a mobile device
The video, released by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, shows what was described by the Coast Guard as a dark-green Lexus SUV speeding along the shoulder before driving off the cliff without appearing to slow down. The car is momentarily airborne before it disappears from the frame.
One witness — the southbound driver whose camera caught the video — reported seeing the SUV fly off the cliff around 11 a.m. Monday.
The Coast Guard, Cal Fire, the California Highway Patrol, the San Mateo County Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Office joined in the search for the car and driver in water up to 40 feet deep near the base of the cliff. Rescue workers found tire tracks on the cliff and car parts in the water, but it was unclear whether the parts were related to Monday’s crash.
As of Thursday afternoon, rescue workers had not found the vehicle or any occupants.
Rescue workers had to suspend search efforts Monday due to a high surf advisory, and had not been able to resume as of Wednesday afternoon, said Officer Bert Diaz of the California Highway Patrol.
“The conditions are just too dangerous for them to continue a search,” he said Wednesday, adding that was expected to be the case “for the next couple days as well.”
The CHP is investigating the circumstances behind the crash, and is asking the public for information that could add more clarity. There appears to be just the one witness, Diaz said, and the video provided by that person doesn’t reveal why the car drove over the edge.
“All it shows is the vehicle veering off the cliff,” Diaz said. “There’s no before, and so at this point, we don’t have any information.”
The Sheriff’s Office has taken over the search and recovery effort, and it was not clear Thursday afternoon when it would be safe to fully resume.
Anyone with information for CHP investigators can contact 415-407-3741.
The site of the video is at a curve about a mile south of the Devil’s Slide tunnels.