On Thursday night, October 12, 2023, just before 10 p.m., a car careened off a cliff and landed on Pescadero State Beach in central California, resulting in one death and two injuries.
The incident occurred near the intersection of Pescadero Creek Road and Highway 1.
The 22-year-old driver of the vehicle was identified as Madeline St. Pierre. She was driving a Kia Forte westbound on Pescadero Creek Road, and upon reaching the intersection with Highway 1, she failed to stop. This caused the car to traverse a parking lot above Pescadero State Beach, from which it plunged about 100 feet onto the sandy beach below.
Inside the white Kia were three individuals. The male, seated on the right rear side, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was a 29-year-old from Watsonville, and his name remains undisclosed. The other two occupants, St. Pierre and a 22-year-old passenger named Elyse Pickart, were injured in the crash and promptly taken to the hospital for treatment. Following the accident, Madeline St. Pierre was arrested and charged with vehicular manslaughter. She also faces charges of driving under the influence.
Upon impact, the car landed on its wheels. However, the vehicle was partially submerged in the beach’s waters due to the high tide.
The California Highway Patrol is completing the investigation into this accident. As the investigation unfolds, local authorities urge the public to exercise caution when traveling along Highway 1, especially at night.
