Elderly Driver Dies After Hayward Ravine Crash
HAYWARD (CBS SF) - An elderly man has died after crashing into a creek below Interstate Highway 580 in Hayward Friday morning and getting stuck there for four hours, according to the Alameda County coroner's bureau.
The 2002 silver Lexus ES300 was discovered at about 11:15 a.m. after it had plunged into a creek in a hidden location under Five Canyons Parkway where it passes under Interstate 580, said Hayward fire Capt. Thor Poulsen.
Paramedic crews arriving on the scene were able to bring the 85-year-old driver up from the creek bed using a backboard, and he was taken to Eden Medical Center, Poulsen said.
California Highway Patrol officials initially said the man suffered moderate injuries, including lowered body temperature and a dislocated hip.
However, the coroner's bureau said Friday afternoon that the man had died from his injuries. His name was not immediately being released.
It appears the driver, who lived on the 4500 block of Old Dublin Road, drove his car every morning to pick up his newspaper at the top of a hill, Poulsen said.
Friday morning, while driving back down the hill, he apparently missed his driveway and rolled down the hill into the creek bed, Poulsen said.
According to the CHP, his car smashed into a tree, traveled down the embankment and came to rest partially in the creek. The car suffered damage to its front and rear.
His wife reported him missing when he didn't return, and the CHP was at the home taking a missing persons report when word of the crash came in.
At that time, the man had been stuck in the creek bed awaiting rescue for around four hours, Poulsen said.
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