Vehicle Down Ravine in Badlands, High-Angle Rescue, Two Hospitalized

A Banning woman and another adult survived an over-the-side crash with minor injuries Tuesday morning when a vehicle plunged 50 to 100 feet down a slope from westbound State Route 60 in the Badlands, authorities said.

Brittany Tucker, 21, of Banning was driving a 1997 Honda Civic west in the fast lane when she lost control in a curve and the car went down an embankment, California Highway Patrol Officer Darren Meyer said.

The crash was reported off the 60 west of the Badlands summit and east of Gilman Springs Road at 7:18 a.m. Tuesday, according to Cal Fire.

The Civic came to rest 50 to 100 feet below the freeway, Cal Fire and the CHP reported.

Tucker and her passenger were both trapped in the Civic. Cal Fire personnel used ropes and other climbing hardware to go down into the ravine and rescue the pair, Meyer said.

They were both wearing seat belts and sustained minor injuries, according to CHP and Cal Fire. They were taken by ambulance to Riverside County Regional Medical Center in Moreno Valley.

Both westbound lanes of the 60 between Interstate 10 in Beaumont and Gilman Springs Road in east Moreno Valley were closed for about one hour during the rope-rescue operation, Meyer said. The eastbound 60 was never closed.

The slow westbound lane remained closed at 9:45 a.m. but the fast lane was open, Meyer said. A tow truck crew was working on raising the damaged car out of the ravine.

The crash was being investigated by CHP Officer Roland Burgess. Alcohol and/or drugs were ruled out as contributing factors, Meyer said.