By Roger Lanse

According to a computer assisted dispatch narrative from the Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority, on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, a vehicle went off the cliff at the Emory Pass Vista on Highway 152 about 11:20 a.m. Not sure who might be in the vehicle, the Silver City Fire Department was contacted in reference to a rope rescue and a request from EMS1 for Native Air to launch was made as well as for EMS10 to assist. At this point, the narrative stated that the U.S. Forest Service would handle the call.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, a privately-owned newer Toyota Tacoma rolled down the embankment from the vista until it was stopped by colliding with a log or tree, remaining upright through the process. It appears the driver may have been confused by the braking system in the newer vehicle but was able to exit the vehicle as it left the vista parking lot to begin its uninhabited journey down the hill. The Beat was unable to determine how far the vehicle traveled before it stopped.

The USFS spokesman stated there were no injuries, nor were any vehicle fluids leaked into the environment.