Aftermath of an Accident

A Caltrans worker surveyed the broken fence area where a car reportedly traveling west at 100 MPH went off the Ocean Beach freeway in the early morning hours of Monday, August 15.

A woman identified by Channel 10 News as Jennifer Varley was listed in serious but stable condition at UCSD Hospital. Channel 10 News reported that Varley is "a nurse who travels from home to home helping seniors."

A day after her Trans Am car exited the freeway, hit the bike path, and flipped itself into the riverbed, I spoke with several homeless people who witnessed some of all of the aftermath. A former stonemason identified as Ron told me he was there later when a large tow truck pulled the damaged car up out of the water. Ron said "the sound of the car's metal scratching over the rocks as the car was dragged up was eerie and the back of the Trans Am was smashed in like an accordion."

Ron also told me he spoke later with witness Tom MacDonald who helped cut the injured Varley out of the smashed automobile. As broken safety glass from the wreck lay strewn along the bike path and the piece of plywood used to hoist Varley out of the car lay in the river bed, McDonald reportedly told Ron that he was "happy to have been on the news and able to help, but was left covered in mud all over" from his dash into the murky water to help save the trapped woman.