Driver Rescued After Vehicle Plunges Off Mulholland Drive in Studio City

Vehicle Plunge and Rescue Operation

• 🚗 A driver was rescued after their black SUV plunged approximately 100 to 150 feet off Mulholland Drive in Studio City.
• 🛠️ Rescue crews worked for about 30 minutes, using ropes and machinery to stabilize the vehicle and free the driver.
• 🚁 A fire helicopter was on standby, and ultimately used for a hoist operation to transport the patient to a trauma center.

Location and Road Conditions

• ⚠️ The incident occurred near a hairpin turn on Mulholland Drive, where damage to the guardrail suggests the car may have gone around the corner too fast.
• 🚧 Mulholland Drive was closed at Skyline Drive, with traffic being diverted to manage the rescue operation.
• 📍 The location overlooks Fryman Canyon and is a heavily traveled road used by commuters heading from the Valley to Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.

Patient Condition and Extrication

• 🚑 The driver, initially believed to be a woman, was conscious and moving her arms, which was seen as a good sign.
• ⚕️ Rescuers described the patient as being "under the vehicle" at one point, indicating a complex extrication process.
• 🏥 The patient was airlifted to a local trauma center for further treatment.

Incident Timeline and Details

• ⏰ The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) was dispatched at 7:20 AM, nearly an hour before the patient was freed.
• ❓ The exact time of the crash and the circumstances leading to it are still under investigation.
• 🚒 The rescue involved LAFD's heavy rescue and air support units, highlighting a complex and coordinated effort.