Many people enjoy driving along California’s Pacific Coast Highway. The scenic route offers stunning views of the state’s coastline, but it’s not without risks. The road snakes along steep cliffs, often with no guardrails, and many people have lost their lives in car accidents over the years. Four people in a Tesla are lucky to be alive after their car plummeted more than 250 feet off a cliff.
Accident details
The crash happened around 10 a.m. on the morning of Jan. 2. A Tesla sedan carrying two small children and two adults was heading down the highway about 15 miles south of San Francisco. For reasons unknown, the car lost control and tumbled over the edge of Devil’s Slide, a notoriously dangerous stretch of road. The car flipped several times, struck a rock outcropping and came to rest just a few feet from the surf.
Emergency crews fashioned a rope system to pull the children to safety, and they were taken to the hospital with suspected musculoskeletal injuries. Both adults suffered traumatic injuries and had to be airlifted from the crash scene by helicopter. Reportedly, the children were not harmed in the wreck, and the adults’ injuries were less severe than initially thought. Authorities do not believe the car was operating in Autopilot mode, and they are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash.
Seeking compensation
It was not clear from initial press reports whether all those in the car were members of the same family. The injured victims may elect to pursue civil claims against the driver if his or her negligence or recklessness led to the crash. To fully understand their options for obtaining compensation, injured victims will need to consult an experienced personal injury attorney in California for assistance.