Bystanders and Rescuers Save Driver After SUV Falls Off Santa Cruz Cliff

A dramatic rescue unfolded as two bystanders and emergency teams worked together to save a driver whose car plunged into Monterey Bay.

A black Nissan Pathfinder SUV went over a cliff near West Cliff Drive and Swift Street in Santa Cruz on Monday morning after colliding with another car.
Two bystanders quickly climbed down the cliff and jumped into the ocean to assist the injured driver before emergency responders arrived.
Santa Cruz Fire Department rescue swimmers and a Harbor Patrol boat joined the effort, using a rescue board to bring the driver to safety.
The driver was transported to a trauma center via air ambulance, while officials confirmed there were no additional passengers in the vehicle.
Authorities praised the bystanders for their quick actions, emphasizing the teamwork involved in the rescue and urging caution along the cliffside roads.