Both directions of state Route 76 in the Pala area were shut down Sunday night after a driver ran into a pole, knocking lines onto the lanes, and plummeted 100 feet down a ravine, officials said.
The collision was reported around 8:30 p.m. on eastbound SR-76 just west of Pala del Norte Road, east of Interstate 15, according to the California Highway Patrol’s online log.
Cal Fire spokeperson Brent Pascua said the driver was able to get out of her vehicle after it went off the highway, and was walking around, looking for her cell phone, when rescuers called down to her, he said.
He said she was transported to a hospital with what were believed to be minor injuries.
Officials initially thought they were dealing with downed power lines but quickly determined they were phone lines, Pascua said. He said a tour bus filled with passengers was also on the highway, near where the lines fell. He said crews were working to get them moved.
The CHP closed down both directions of SR-76 between Rice Canyon and Pala Mission Road as crews worked, Pascua said.
