Driver dies after car plunges more than 400 feet off cliff
By Felix Cortez
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DAVENPORT, California (KSBW) — One man died after the car he was driving veered off the road in the Davenport area and plunged more than 400 feet down a steep cliff onto a beach below, where it was pounded by heavy surf.
“The initial call was for a single vehicle reported over the bank,” said CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Cameron McFadden.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash happened at about 12:48 p.m. on May 18, 2026.
A 58-year-old Santa Rosa man was driving a black 2017 Honda Pilot southbound on SR-1 at an unknown speed when the vehicle traveled off the west edge of the roadway, struck a call box, continued through vegetation and went over the cliff.
“Right where the patient drove off, it’s a very steep cliff there. There’s very little access to make it directly down to where the patient is,” McFadden said.
It is unknown what caused the driver to veer off the road and over the cliff.
There was no easy way down for first responders, who had to stage up the road at Greyhound Rock County Park, where lifeguards had to run and swim for nearly a mile before reaching the driver, who had been ejected from the car into the water.
“The two lifeguards, marine safety officers, that were first on scene did pull the victim out of the water and perform CPR until the victim was long-lined, or hoisted, off the beach and up on the cliff, where resuscitation efforts were continued,” said Santa Cruz Marine Safety Capt. David Bodine.
Despite lifesaving efforts, the adult male was pronounced dead a short while later. An autopsy may help determine whether drugs, alcohol or a medical emergency played a role in the crash.
The rescue was the second water rescue in less than 24 hours involving many of the same agencies: CAL FIRE, State Parks, CHP and lifeguards. Sunday night, they responded to eight people trapped in a cave near Panther Beach after high tide came in. All were safely rescued.
“Our agencies all work together quite a bit on the North Coast. I feel like we work well together, and it’s a team effort,” Bodine said.
Efforts are now being planned to remove the car from the beach just south of Greyhound Rock County Park.
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