Indentity of Saturday’s Big Sur cliff fatal released

–UPDATE 2–

CHP has released the name of the driver who drove off a cliff in Big Sur Saturday morning.

Officers say 39-year old Anthony Hernandez Jr. from Salinas, CA, was traveling northbound on State Route 1 and was unable to negotiate the right curve in the roadway, crossed the double yellow lines, traveled northbound in the southbound lane and then drove off the cliff.

CHP is still investigating this collision.

–UPDATE–

Monterey California Highway Patrol says just 6 miles south of where a missing Oregon woman was found alive; another person has driven off a cliff and died.

CHP received a 9-1-1 call reporting a white vehicle at the bottom of the cliff at State Route 1 between Willow Creek Road and Los Burros in Big Sur. The vehicle was located around 280 feet down a rugged cliff along the Big Sur coastline about a quarter of a mile south of Willow Creek Road.

CHP says they requested a helicopter to assist but had to cancel it due to heavy fog in the area.

Monterey County Search and Rescue and Big Sur Fire Brigade responded to the incident and located one deceased 39-year old unidentified male who is suspected to the driver of the white 2012 Chevrolet Cruze.

Initial reports indicate that the driver was traveling northbound on State Route 1 and was unable to negotiate the right curve in the roadway, crossed the double yellow lines, traveled northbound in the southbound lane and then drove off the cliff.

Monterey County Coroner’s office is in the process of identifying the male.

CHP says they will continue to investigate this collision.

–INITIAL STORY–

One person is dead after their car drove off a clip near Big Sur Saturday morning.

CHP reports that a vehicle drove off the cliff on Highway 1 around 9:00 a.m. near the Willow Creek Picnic Area and Beach. The vehicle appears to have driven 250 feet down the cliff and cannot be recovered due to foggy conditions. The vehicle is expected to be recovered by Sunday.

Crews were able to locate the vehicle by walking on the beach. Air operations were also canceled due to foggy conditions.

CHP says Search and Rescue crews found a male dead at the scene.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.