A motorist died earlier this week after driving off a cliff along California’s Highway 1 in Big Sur and crashing on the rocks some 500 feet below, officials announced.
Emergency dispatchers received several 911 calls on Feb. 10 just before 4:30 p.m. reporting a vehicle that had left the roadway and was thought to have plunged into the ocean, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The sheriff’s search and rescue team, along with the Big Sur Fire Department and the California Highway Patrol, responded to the scene, established a unified command and immediately began search and rescue efforts.
“Responding personnel located the vehicle after it had traveled over a cliff and came to rest more than 500 feet below on the rocks,” sheriff’s officials said.
The fatal incident, according to KTLA’s sister station KRON, occurred at Hurricane Point about 5 miles north of Point Sur State Historic Park.
A motorist was killed after driving their vehicle off a cliffside at Hurricane Point in Big Sur on Feb. 10, 2026. (MCSO)
A motorist was killed after driving their vehicle off a cliffside at Hurricane Point in Big Sur on Feb. 10, 2026. (MCSO)
A motorist was killed after driving their vehicle off a cliffside at Hurricane Point in Big Sur on Feb. 10, 2026. (MCSO)
A motorist was killed after driving their vehicle off a cliffside at Hurricane Point in Big Sur on Feb. 10, 2026. (MCSO)
A motorist was killed after driving their vehicle off a cliffside at Hurricane Point in Big Sur on Feb. 10, 2026. (MCSO)
A motorist was killed after driving their vehicle off a cliffside at Hurricane Point in Big Sur on Feb. 10, 2026. (MCSO)
When first responders got down to the vehicle, the sole occupant, who has yet to be identified, was pronounced deceased.
Difficult weather conditions made the recovery effort challenging, according to Sheriff Tina Nieto.
“Strong winds required our Search and Rescue personnel to take additional safety precautions,” she said.
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The recovery effort lasted until about 9 p.m., when the deceased was pulled up and transferred to the Monterey County Coroner’s Office for identification and next-of-kin notification.
While it’s unclear what exactly caused the motorist to veer off the roadway and over the cliffside, officials with the California Highway Patrol are investigating the crash.
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