A fatal crash along California’s scenic Big Sur coastline left one person dead after a vehicle plunged roughly 500 feet down a steep cliff near Highway 1, authorities confirmed Tuesday. The deadly incident occurred at Hurricane Point, a well-known scenic overlook along the state’s rugged central shoreline.
According to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), emergency dispatchers received multiple 911 calls at approximately 4:22 p.m. on February 10 reporting that a vehicle had veered off the roadway and was believed to have gone into the water. First responders from Big Sur Fire and the sheriff’s office quickly launched a search and rescue operation in the remote coastal area.
Officials later determined that the vehicle had not entered the ocean but instead tumbled down the rocky cliffside before coming to rest more than 500 feet below the roadway. Rescue crews located the wreckage on the rocks beneath the cliff. During recovery efforts, responders found one occupant inside the vehicle, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto noted that challenging weather conditions complicated the recovery operation. Strong winds in the area required search and rescue personnel to take additional precautions to ensure their safety while navigating the hazardous terrain. February is typically one of the wetter months in Big Sur, and the region is known for rain-related landslides and unstable slopes during winter storms. Weather reports indicated that light rain was falling in nearby areas around the time of the crash.
After approximately four hours of recovery work, authorities transferred the victim to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office for formal identification and notification of next of kin.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is leading the investigation into the cause of the crash. Officials have not yet confirmed whether weather, road conditions, or other factors contributed to the vehicle leaving the roadway.
Highway 1 in Big Sur has faced multiple closures in recent months due to landslides and storm damage. Although a section of the highway had been expected to remain closed until late March, transportation officials reopened the roadway in mid-January after stabilizing what they described as one of California’s most challenging slopes.
Authorities extended their condolences to the victim’s family as the investigation continues.
