Woman Rescued from Car Dangling from Santa Monica Parking Structure

By Lookout Staff

June 11, 2018 -- A bystander rescued a woman from her car as it precariously dangled from the edge of a public parking structure in Downtown Santa Monica.

Traffic was diverted and firefighters responded to the accident that took place at around 10:30 a.m. Monday at City Parking Structure #5 at 1440 4th Street, Fire Department officials said.

Car dangles from Downtown Santa Monica parking structure (Courtesy Santa Monica Fire Department)

When firefighters arrived 5 minutes 47 seconds after the accident was reported, they found a late model Honda Civic that had driven off of the parking platform held in place by steel barrier cables, said Fire Captain Patrick Nulty.

"Prior to first responders arriving, a bystander who witnessed the incident within the parking garage, sprang into action and pulled the driver from the vehicle," Nulty said.

The driver, a woman in her 60s, said she "inadvertently depressed the accelerator instead of the brake pedal while attempting to park," Nulty said.

KTLA reported that the rescuer was a tourist who quickly left the scene.

Members of the Santa Monica Fire Department’s Urban Search & Rescue Team, who were among the 25 firefighters who responded, "quickly secured the vehicle to prevent it from falling any further," Nulty said.

Santa Monica Police Officers evacuated the area and set up a safety perimeter, he said.

Firefighters requested two tow trucks from Pacific Tow Company "to assist in executing their plan on safely pulling the vehicle from the edge and back to safety," Nulty said.

The operation was completed at 11:45 a.m. the operation was complete and all hazards were mitigated.

No injuries were reported, Nulty said.