• A Mazda driver who apparently evaded police drove off a cliff in Carlsbad, California.
  • The man was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries but is expected to survive.
  • The car itself is difficult to recognize after the fall.

California police on Monday witnessed a strange sequence of events involving Mazda a driver who seemed intent on turning an ordinary traffic incident into a cinematic spectacle. The saga began with a collision with a fence and a quick escape, escalated into evading police and ended with the car careening off a cliff onto the beach below. A passenger in the Mazda miraculously survived the fall and is expected to recover despite serious injuries.

According to Carlsbad Police The department saw a Mazda crash into a fence in the 2400 block of Impala Drive around 4 p.m. Authorities say the driver “recklessly fled the scene,” prompting officers to attempt a traffic stop. However, the motorist did not stop. West of Avenida Encinas, officers effectively called off the pursuit due to safety concerns.

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This apparently didn’t register with the driver, who then drove off a cliff in the 5500 block of Carlsbad Road. Officers immediately called emergency services and then descended the cliff on foot to perform life-saving measures. NBC San Diego spoke with a local resident who saw parts of the chase.

“When I saw him, I initially thought it was a normal traffic stop, but when I saw four police cars following him, I thought, ‘This is definitely something else,'” the man said. “I saw the car go off the cliff. Honestly, it sounded like a blast. It looked like fireworks. It was just one big blow. It sounded like a crashing wave – a very strong wave. It was crazy.”

Rescuers eventually extricated the driver and took him to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. At this stage they are expected to survive. At this time, it is unclear what caused the driver to make so many poor decisions. Interestingly, at this stage police do not believe drugs or alcohol were involved. One thing is clear: Mazda did an amazing job of sheltering the driver and keeping him alive until rescuers arrived.

Image credit: CBS 8 San Diego