The San Luis Obispo Tribune reported recently that a woman was killed in the early morning hours of Monday, December 21 after a cliffside all-terrain vehicle accident, allegedly caused by drunken ATV operation, sent her plunging into the Pacific Ocean.
A woman from Paso Robles, 34 years of age, was a passenger in a rented Can-Am all-terrain vehicle that plunged off a cliff near the town of Harmony between 3:40 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST). She killed in the wreck while three other people in the wreck, a Los Angeles woman 35 years of age who was the driver and two passengers, one a man from Long Beach 42 years of age and one a man from Germany 46 years of age, were able to extricate themselves from the wreckage and climbed back up the cliff to seek help.
According to the California Highway Patrol, first responders climbed down the cliff to attempt a rescue and declared the woman dead at the scene of the accident. Two of the others were transported to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center with moderate injuries. All four occupants were wearing seat belts but none were wearing helmets. The driver was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and charged with DUI causing injury or death to another and gross vehicular manslaughter.
