San Miguel man killed after driving off cliff, rancher finds wreckage

SAN MIGUEL, Calif. - A San Miguel man was identified as the driver killed Sunday when his car went off a road and down a cliff east of the town. The wreckage wasn't found until the next day.

CHP officers say Daniel Koudelka, 50, of San Miguel was killed in the crash.

It happened around 6:45 a.m. Sunday in the 4100 block of Ranchita Canyon Road. CHP investigators say Koudelka was driving northbound when he turned off the road. Investigators don't know what caused him to leave the road, but he drove into the shoulder and eventually overturned and went down a steep dirt arroyo. CAL FIRE estimated the drop was about 50 feet.

CHP investigators say the car overturned at least three times before coming to rest on its wheels on a creek bed at the bottom of the drop.

The CHP says Koudelka was killed in the crash, but the wreckage wasn't located for more than 24 hours. Around 5:20 p.m. Monday, a rancher who was out taking care of his animals spotted the car and called 911.

The CHP says the investigation is ongoing, but officers say impairment is suspected.