By J.D. Velasco
The San Gabriel Valley Tribune
ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. — A Los Angeles County fire team on Tuesday rescued a man who had been trapped in his vehicle in a ravine for nearly 20 hours.
Fire officials said the 49-year-old Azusa man’s vehicle plunged about 150 feet into the ravine after he drove off San Gabriel Canyon road near the 20 mile marker above Glendora about 4 p.m. Monday.
Sheriff’s San Dimas Station Lt. Craig Boyett said investigators believe the man, whose name was not released, intentionally drove into the ravine.
County fire Inspector Matt Levesque said the man was discovered after a California Highway Patrol officer spotted a set of tire tracks veering off the road about 10 a.m. Tuesday.
A Los Angeles County fire helicopter responded to the area and located the vehicle amid heavy brush by about 10:30 a.m. The driver was pulled to safety by the rescue crew a little more than an hour later.
During his rescue, the man complained of chest and back pain, Levesque said. He was taken to a local hospital in stable condition and may be placed under a psychiatric hold, authorities said.
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