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California officials on Monday said a driver suspected of being under the influence miraculously survived after a pickup truck plunged roughly 600 feet off a cliff in Northern California last week.
The crash happened in Siskiyou County along State Route 263, a scenic highway carved through steep cliffs and rugged terrain known for its dramatic drop-offs.
The pickup appeared to veer off the roadway before tumbling down the mountainside and eventually coming to rest at the bottom of the cliff, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
“Remarkably, the driver survived what could have easily been a fatal crash,” the agency said.
A white pickup truck sits completely destroyed at the base of a rugged mountainside after plunging roughly 600 feet in Siskiyou County, California, in July 2026. (California Highway Patrol)
After authorities responded to the scene, the driver was found to be allegedly impaired, CHP said.
The individual was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
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A view looking down the steep, rugged cliffs of Northern California shows the long, treacherous path a vehicle traveled during a violent mountain crash in July 2026. (California Highway Patrol)
Photos released by the agency show the pickup truck mangled and nearly unrecognizable after the violent plunge, with debris scattered across the rocky mountainside.
Authorities did not immediately release the driver’s identity or provide details about the extent of any injuries sustained in the wreck.
Tire tracks mark the edge of State Route 263 in Siskiyou County, California, where a suspected impaired driver veered off a cliff in July 2026. (California Highway Patrol)
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Following the incident, CHP urged drivers to never get behind the wheel while impaired, warning that the consequences can be devastating.
“This crash serves as a powerful reminder that impaired driving puts not only your life at risk, but also the lives of everyone else on the road,” CHP said. “Choosing to drive under the influence can have devastating consequences that are entirely preventable.”