BODEGA BAY, California (AP) – Dozens of people on a popular Northern California coastline watch an SUV drive through a parking lot without braking and then plunge from a cliff into the rocks below, killing two women, said investigators Monday.
The cause of the crash over the weekend is still being investigated, California Highway Patrol Officer David de Rutte said. Initial evidence reports indicated that the vehicle drove through a wooden barrier in a large parking area at Bodega Bay’s main route before descending from the cliff.
“Witnesses saw the vehicle drive through the parking lot – and it just kept driving,” de Rutte said. “It did not stop. There was no acceleration, but also no brake. ”
Investigators were still trying to determine if the crash was accidental or intentional, he said.
Both women were found dead when rescuers reached the Toyota SUV, which ended up on the rocks about 30 meters below the roof.
Authorities identified the driver as Maria Teixeira (64) and the passenger as Elizabeth Correia (41), both from the city of Dublin in San Francisco Bay, about 160 kilometers south of the crash.
The Mercury News reports they were mother and daughter, both employees of public schools in the Bay, according to family members and sheriff’s officials. Teixeira was principal at Montevideo Primary School in nearby San Ramon, and Correia was a first-class teacher at Lydiksen Primary School in Pleasanton.
Erin Aitken, a teacher and former colleague of Teixeira, like many people who knew her, struggled to make sense of the accident.
“She was just a warm, kind person, she was so smiley and happy. She helped everyone, ‘said Aitken, remembering how proud Teixeira was when her daughter became a teacher. “She was a great cheerleader for her children. And she clearly loved being a child. ”
According to Correia’s biography on the school’s website, she has been teaching in Pleasanton since 2005, where she grew up.
“She loves teaching, reading, music, art, movies, Disneyland and spending time with friends and family,” the website says.
The accident happened on Saturday when hikers and beachgoers descended to the beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean to make use of clear weather on the Easter holiday weekend.