Crime & Safety

IDYLLWILD CRASH: FJ Cruiser Rolls off Cliff, Lands on SR 243

A crashed vehicle blocked Highway 243 in Idyllwild on Tuesday when a Toyota FJ Cruiser rolled off private property, dropped 20 to 25 feet and smashed bumper-first into the mountain road, according to the town's fire chief.

The driver stepped out of the vehicle, saw it roll over the edge, and there was nothing he could do, Idyllwild Fire Protection District Chief Patrick Reitz said in a phone interview.

IFPD personnel responded just after 2 p.m. Dec. 10 to multiple reports of a crash on SR 243 near Strawberry Creek Bunkhouse, Reitz said.

Firefighters found the damaged FJ Cruiser nosed up against a rock cliff and blocking the northbound lane of 243.

"On investigation, it was found that the vehicle had rolled off the private property directly adjacent to and above SR 243 after the owner exited the vehicle, possibly failing to engage the parking brake and/or take the vehicle out of gear," Reitz said.

The FJ Cruiser landed on SR 243, causing major damage to the vehicle, but did not damage the roadway, Reitz said.

The FJ Cruiser was unoccupied at the time of the accident and there were no injuries, Reitz said. The FJ Cruiser did not strike any other vehicles.

IFPD personnel remained on-scene to direct traffic. The California Highway Patrol investigated and the vehicle was removed from the scene as of 4 p.m.

The damaged FJ Cruiser "started right up," Reitz said. "It didn't sound too good but it was running."

There was some snow on rooftops in the neighborhood from recent storm activity. It was not clear if there was snow or ice on the private property the vehicle fell from, Reitz said.

Strawberry Creek Bunkhouse is northwest of downtown Idyllwild. The town is located about 5,300 feet elevation in the San Jacinto Mountains, south of the San Gorgonio Pass in Riverside County, Calif.


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