Driver killed as car plunges off Angeles Crest Highway, three survive
A woman driving on the Angeles Crest Highway in La Cañada Flintridge fell off the road, dying at the scene while three young passengers escaped with minor injuries.
Around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Pasadena police and fire units were dispatched to a crash on the Angeles Crest Highway near Mile Marker 26-50 in La Cañada Flintridge, where a car had fallen several hundred feet off the road. The female driver was found dead at the scene and has not been identified, while three passengers—early-twenties residents of Orange County—escaped with injuries that were not life-threatening and were transported to a local hospital.
A Pasadena firefighter sustained an undisclosed leg injury while assisting the rescue. The challenging terrain slowed recovery efforts, and officials from Pasadena Police, L.A. County Fire, Glendale Fire and Montrose Search and Rescue collaborated on the operation.
The Pasadena Police Major Accident Investigation Team is now examining the cause of the collision. Angeles Crest Highway, a 66-mile scenic route through the San Gabriel Mountains, has recently faced multiple closures.
Why it matters
The crash highlights safety risks on a popular mountain road and the challenges rescuers face in rugged terrain.
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