A Santa Rosa woman was rescued after her car tumbled down a 100 foot cliff north of Bodega Bay this morning. Sheriff’s Dispatch received the call at about 6:00 AM of a vehicle over a cliff near Hwy 1 and Coleman Valley Rd. The Bodega Bay Fire Department responded to the call along with Bodega Volunteer FD, Monte Rio FD, the US Coast Guard, CHP, Sheriff’s Deputies and the Sheriff’s Helicopter.
Firefighters from Bodega Bay FD found the car, a VW bug, had landed on Coleman Valley Beach approximately 100 feet down the cliff from Highway 1 and had caught fire. The driver, a 54-year-old Santa Rosa woman jumped into the ocean after crashing the car and swam several hundred yards out to sea. A firefighter was able to swim after her and ultimately rescued her, bringing her back to the beach.
A crew from the Sheriff’s helicopter was able to land on the beach, provide medical attention for the woman and then flew her for a 9-minute trip to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital where she is being treated for her injuries from the car crash.
Deputies and CHP Officers investigated the collision and believed the woman intentionally drove over the cliff and attempted to end her life. When she survived the crash it’s believed she swam out in the ocean in a further attempt to end her life. Deputies placed the woman on a mandatory mental health hold at the hospital in the hopes that she is able to get mental health treatment.
This was a very successful rescue and excellent coordination of resources by all agencies involved.
