A man in his early 30s died after he drove an SUV off Angeles Crest Highway on Monday near La Cañada Flintridge in an incident that is being investigated as a possible suicide, officials said.
Authorities were called to mile marker 31.68 around 2:30 p.m., said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Gina Eguia.
The Los Angeles man “made some statements in regard to suicide,” said Eguia, who added the department’s Homicide Bureau is handling the case. Eguia did not elaborate.
“At this time we are ruling it [suicide] unless the coroner rules something different,” she said. “There are no signs of foul play.”
The man’s identity was not immediately available. He did not own the SUV, and the owner had not immediately been notified of the crash, Eguia said.
Before the incident, the man and his ex-girlfriend had driven to the area together in the SUV, Eguia said. They were talking outside of the vehicle and at some point, Eguia said, the man reentered the vehicle and drove it over the side of the road.
California Highway Patrol Officer Vince Ramirez said a SigAlert was issued for a vehicle over the side in what was later determined to be a possible suicide.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department received the call, said Inspector Scott Elliott. Upon department personnel’s arrival about 10 minutes later, the vehicle was found about 200 feet below the road and the victim was found to be dead, he said.
Man Dies in Crash Near Angeles Crest; Suicide Suspected
