SANTA MONICA—A 20 year-old male, from Twentynine Palms, drove his jeep off a sixth-floor parking structure located at 1571 Second Street on Sunday, February 23.
Officials from the Santa Monica Police Department responded to the area at 12:10 a.m. The driver was conscious, suffering minor injuries, and speaking with officers when they arrived the vehicle landed against a McDonald’s Restaurant. The Santa Monica Fire Department indicated a total of 3 people were in the vehicle, but two were able to jump out prior to the vehicle driving off the top of the structure. Firefighters worked quickly to stabilize the vehicle and extricate one patient.
A total of 15 firefighters appeared on the scene. Significant damage was sustained to the top of the parking structure, as well as the building. A representative from the Building and Safety Department was requested to the scene to assess the structural integrity of the parking structure.
Officers are still investigating the cause of the incident. The SMPD learned that the
driver experienced non-visible health issues. He was transported to UCLA Westwood hospital in critical condition. The driver is recovering in stable condition at the hospital.
