1 dead after car plummets 800 feet down mountain in Angeles National Forest

BySid Garcia and ABC7.com staff KABC logo
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
1 killed after car plummets 800 feet over mountain side in Angeles National Forest
One person was killed after a car crashed 800 feet down a mountain side in the Angeles National Forest.

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Authorities headed out to the Angeles National Forest Monday to recover a body after a car went over a mountain side and caught fire.

Around 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Los Angeles County firefighters saw smoke and checked an area along the Angeles National Forest Highway near Tujunga Canyon.

The firefighters quickly knocked down a brush fire and ended up finding the burned car.

Firefighters determined the brush fire was caused by the car catching fire after it crashed 800 feet below the roadway.

Authorities said the car appeared to have landed on top of the person, whose body was severely burned.

The coroner, along with help from local law enforcement, trekked down the mountain side to recover the body.

Investigators were working to determine if the crash was an accident or suicide, as there were no skid marks near the scene.

A missing person's report had been filed last week that may be connected to the car or victim, authorities said.

The investigation was ongoing.