Search underway for occupant of SUV that plunged down Ventura County cliffside

A bizarre search and rescue operation unfolded Monday for an occupant of an SUV that reportedly plunged 1,000 feet down a hillside Saturday night in Ventura County. 

Details are limited and it’s unclear exactly how the crash in the area of Deer Creek Road, about two miles south of Pacific Coast Highway occurred, but early reports suggest a rear passenger, who suffered serious injuries, was able to self-extricate from the white Cadillac SUV, according to photojournalists with OnScene.TV, a video news service.  

The man was reportedly able to hike his way back up to the road where he was picked up by his brother and rushed to a local hospital, the news service reported. 

Authorities were apparently unaware of the crash until noon on Monday when it was reported by the man who was able to hike back to the road that there were two other occupants in the vehicle.  

At around 4 p.m., officers with the California Highway Patrol located the SUV and, with assistance from Ventura County Sheriff’s and Fire departments, as well as crews with the Oxnard Fire Department, launched a search by helicopter, drones, K-9 and search and rescue teams.  

In a 7:30 p.m. update on X, formerly Twitter, fire officials said that one of the missing occupants had been located at their residence.  

By around 9 p.m., crews were able to access and search the vehicle, though they were unable to locate the missing occupant before the search was suspended until Tuesday morning.  

It’s unclear why the crash was not reported earlier, and whether it’s the driver of the vehicle or another passenger that remains missing.  

No further details were released.  

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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)