BODEGA BAY, California (AP) – Dozens of people on the popular northern California coast watched as an SUV drove through an unbridled parking lot and then crashed down a cliff into the rocks below, killing two women, according the researchers reported.
David de Rutte, a California highway patrol officer, was still investigating the cause of the weekend crash. Early witnesses indicated that the vehicle was driving through a wooden barrier in a large parking area on the headland bay track of the winery before exiting the cliff.
“Witnesses saw the vehicle driving through the parking lot and everything was still driving,” de Rutte said. “It simply came to our notice then. There was no acceleration, but no braking. “
Investigators were still trying to determine if the accident was accidental or intentional, he said.
The two women were found dead when rescuers descended to the Toyota SUV, which had landed on its roof over the rocks about 30 meters below.
Authorities identified the driver as Maria Teixeira, 64, and the passenger as Elizabeth Correia, 41, both in the city of Dublin, San Francisco Bay, about 160 kilometers south of the site. accident.
Mercury News reported they were relatives and daughters, both public school employees in the bay area, according to relatives and sheriff’s officers. Teixeira was principal custodian of Montevideo Elementary School in the nearby city of San Ramon, and Correia was a first-grade teacher at Lydiksen Elementary School in Pleasanton.
Erin Aitken, a teacher and former colleague of Teixeira, fought like many who knew her to make sense of the accident.
“He was just a good warm person, he was so smiling and happy. It helped everyone, ”said Aitken, recalling the pride Teixeira had when her daughter became a teacher. “She was a great cheerleader for her children. And he clearly loved being around the kids. ”
Correia’s biography on the school’s website said he had taught in Pleasanton, where he grew up, since 2005.
“He enjoys teaching, reading, music, art, movies, Disneyland and spending time with friends and family,” the website says.
The crash occurred on Saturday as hikers and beach lovers flocked to the panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean to take advantage of the clear weather over the Easter holiday weekend.