Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} A car drove over a small cliff near the Cabrillo National Monument Tuesday night.
The accident happened just before 7 p.m. near 200 Catalina Boulevard in Point Loma. Officials said the car drove through a fence and onto Department of Defense property.
Officials said the car fell between 80-100 feet down to a canyon floor in Point Loma.
The driver, 30-year-old Elena Sabo was being treated for non life threatening injuries at UCSD Medical Center. She suffered cuts to her face and some broken bones. She was conscious when help arrived
Heavy gauge guardrail, reinforced with thick wooden posts didn't stop the car from nose diving into the canyon.
“She kinda screeched and tried to correct,” witness Julia Cannaday said. “She made a complete arch and just bam. She just crashed."
Investigators say the car was packed with clothes and photos, which ended up all over the canyon area.
“My first thing was like, ‘Oh my God is that person okay,’ we looked down the bank but there was no way we could jump the fence and get all the way down there,” witness Rasheina Eads said.
Witnesses called 911, and fire fighters found the driver conscious and speaking clearly. She had minor cuts to her face. She was stabilized and carefully brought back up the steep cliff.
“I've never seen anything like it. It was like a movie,” Cannaday said.
The U.S. Navy owns the street, cliff and canyon. Investigators said Naval Base Point Loma was never thought to be a target.
“This was clearly an accident, so we are treating it as an accident,” Commanding Officer Captain Scott Adams said.
The crash happened just outside the secured gates of the Naval Base.
There was no threat to the personnel or complex. The structures are mostly offices and testing labs situated far from the road.
