Authorities Wednesday identified a Downey man who was killed when his car veered off a mountain road and plunged about 300 feet down an embankment into a basin below Morris Reservoir north of Azusa.
The crash was reported about 10:20 a.m. Tuesday near the 9500 block of North San Gabriel Canyon Road.
Mario Andrade, 43, died at the scene, the coroner’s office reported.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Andrade was ejected from the car as it plummeted into the basin below the dam spillway. The vehicle ended up submerged in about 17 feet of water, the CHP reported.
“At this time, it is unclear what direction the sedan was traveling or why it left the roadway,” according to a CHP statement.
A dive team searched the water and determined that there were no other victims. Dam workers had to shut off the flow of water so that rescuers could get a boat into the water, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
One worker who was clearing brush heard a noise and witnessed the crash, a fire department spokesman said.
Anyone who has information about what happened was urged to call (626) 338-1164 to speak with Officer Rivera, who is investigating the fatality.