Crash over Mendocino Coast cliff may have been intentional

Mendocino County Sheriff’s detectives are investigating whether an out-of-county mother intentionally drove her vehicle, which contained one or more of her children, off Highway 1 on the Mendocino Coast, Sheriff’s officials said.

The incident, which happened sometime before 11:22 a.m. Friday, was first reported as an accident by CHP officials. Further investigation by the CHP raised suspicion that the mother, whose name was not released, intentionally drove off the cliffside roadway, said Mendocino Sheriff’s Capt. Greg Van Patten.

“We’re trying to establish if it was a crime or mental health related issue,” Van Patten said.

Van Patten said sheriff’s detectives spent Friday mapping out the logistics of their investigation and will be interviewing the mother in the coming days. He said the suspicion of criminal intent was based a preliminary investigation by CHP officers.

CHP officials previously reported that a child with major head injuries was flown to Oakland Children’s Hospital Friday after being rescued from the vehicle. The vehicle was first reported down a 200-foot cliff off Highway 1 at mile marker 74.3 near Fort Bragg.

At least one other person was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

Van Patten said the mother and the children were from outside the county, possibly Humboldt, though that has not been confirmed. No other information was available about the case Saturday, sheriff’s officials said.