Woman Rescued After Car Plunges Off Coastal Sonoma County Cliff

BODEGA BAY, CA — A woman whose car caught fire Tuesday morning when it crashed 100 feet down a coastal Sonoma County cliff was brought to safety in what the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said was a "very successful rescue and excellent coordination of resources by all agencies involved." At about 6 a.m., first responders on the federal, state, county and local levels rushed to the scene north of Bodega Bay near state Highway 1 and Coleman Valley Road.

Bodega Bay Fire Protection District firefighters arrived to find a Volkswagen Bug on fire on Coleman Valley Beach.

The VW caught fire after tumbling 100 feet down the cliff, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, which responded along with Bodega Volunteer Fire Department, Monte Rio Fire Department, Gold Ridge Fire Protection District, State Parks, California Highway Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard.

"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," sheriff's officials said in a news release.

The woman escaped the vehicle through a window and was treading water 50 to 75 yards off shore, according to Bodega Bay fire Capt. Lou Stoerzinger.

Heath Lesik, a career firefighter who is trained in ocean rescue and volunteers for the Bodega Bay Fire Protection District, swam out to the woman and helped her ashore, Stoerzinger said.

A sheriff’s helicopter crew landed on the beach and provided medical attention to the woman, then transported her on a 9-minute flight to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for further treatment of the injuries she suffered in the car crash.

Deputies and CHP officers who investigated the incident believe the woman may have intentionally drove over the cliff and attempted to end her life, according to the sheriff's office.

"When she survived the crash it's believed she swam out in the ocean in a further attempt to end her life," sheriff's officials said, noting that the woman was placed on a mandatory mental health hold at the hospital in the hopes she is able to get mental health treatment.

— Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Editor's Note: To reach the National Suicide Prevention Hotline about yourself or someone you know, call 800-273-8255. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.