Car plummets down canyon after driver swerves to avoid hitting animal [Updated]

L.A. county rescuers Monday evening were trying to reach two people in a vehicle that had plummeted down a steep ravine after swerving to avoid hitting an animal in the hills near Malibu, authorities said.

A fire engine at the scene off Stunt Road near Mulholland Highway reported that the vehicle was about 80 feet down a canyon with two victims inside, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. The accident was reported shortly after 7:30 p.m.

The initial call reporting the accident indicated that the car had swerved to avoid an animal in the road.

"That's a steep area," said Fire Department Inspector Matt Levesque.

He said two specialized search and rescue units were responding.

[Updated 9:09 p.m.: Two people were pulled from the vehicle alive and were being taken to a hospital. The extent of their injuries was not known, Levesque said.]

-- Robert J. Lopez

Comments

[El Dabe Law Firm - California Accident Attorney and Injury Lawyer]

I hope the driver and passenger are okay. In some cases, you just have to hit the animal to save yourself.

[James]

Inscription on headstone: I braked for animals!

[Chaka]

Never swerve to miss and animal.
Unless maybe if it's an elephant. When I see squirrels and raccoons, I go for them as fast as possible.

Never swerve to avoid an animal!

[Samantha Rogers]

It is fortunate that the two car occupants survived the incident. However, the drive may have committed negligence when he suddenly swerved just to avoid hitting the animal. If he was driving cautiously, he might have seen the animal beforehand, while there is still time to safely avoid it.

[Samantha Rogers]

It is fortunate that the two car occupants survived the incident. However, the drive may have committed negligence when he suddenly swerved just to avoid hitting the animal. If he was driving cautiously, he might have seen the animal beforehand, while there is still time to safely avoid it.

[emilio rivera]

May be they were doing something else?

[Ariel Sharon]

I hope the animal is OK.