Police in Los Gatos, California, recently saved three people from a car teetering on the edge of a cliff.
A California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer responded to a 9-1-1 call on January 13 in Los Gatos, located roughly 20 miles north of Santa Cruz, about a car dangling over a ditch. The car was spotted at 885 Old Mill Road in a remote area north of Scotts Valley.
When responding Officer Murphy arrived, he found that the car was in fact teetering off a cliff and not a ditch.
“They were scared for their lives and were in disbelief,” the CHP said of the vehicle’s occupants, per Facebook.
Officer Murphy quickly took control of the situation.
“Officer Murphy, with his collective and calm voice, gave them clear and concise instructions on how to safely exit the car,” the CHP continued.
The three occupants were able to exit the car safely with the officer’s help.
California has been drenched in more than 40 inches of rain since storms began in December. The torrential rain has caused flooding and mudslides, making roads unsafe and dangerous for travel.
The CHP advised the public to limit driving during rainstorms.
“Again, we cannot stress this enough. Please ONLY drive if it’s necessary. If you do need to drive, please slow down, be aware of your surroundings and give enough space between yourself and surrounding vehicles,” the CHP cautioned.
So far, 20 deaths have been reported since the storms began.
Both roads and properties have been damaged due to flooding and landslides.
President Biden has approved a major disaster declaration for California, allowing for the state to use federal resources to aid in recovery.