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Passenger dies after truck fell 300 feet down cliff in Pierce County

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — A passenger died after a truck fell 300 feet down a cliff in Pierce County, police said.

Deputies responded Friday night around 10:50 p.m. to a 911 call that said a truck had rolled over the side of National Forest Road 7810 in the Fairfax area.

While the driver of the truck was able to climb out and get help, the passenger was trapped in the truck, now 300 feet down the cliff, according to officials.

A search team with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office worked with other local fire departments to perform a rope rescue. The team was able to get to the car, cut the roof of the truck and transported the trapped victim up to an ambulance.

The 24-year-old man freed from the car was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center, and later died at 3:35 a.m. Saturday.

Deputies observed signs of impairment on the truck driver. A DUI blood test was performed and results are pending.

The 20-year-old man was booked into jail on suspicion of vehicular homicide.

Search & Rescue team responds to truck crashed 300 feet over side of cliff, cuts injured passenger from truck & lifts to...

Posted by Pierce County Sheriff's Department on Saturday, June 27, 2020