CHP Probing Death of Canoga Park Motorist
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the death of a 42-year-old Canoga Park man whose car crashed into the surf Wednesday night below the Pacific Coast Highway near Tuna Canyon in the Malibu area, authorities said Thursday.
The Los Angeles County coroner’s office identified the man as James Joseph French. He died when his car crashed against the rocks, according to autopsy results released by the coroner’s office.
French’s car was southbound on the highway when it went off the road about 8:30 p.m., flipped and overturned on the rocky beach below, CHP Officer Joe Campos said. County firefighters found the victim pinned in the car but were unable to revive him.
A witness who unsuccessfully tried to pull French from the partly submerged wreckage smelled alcohol, and CHP officers later found two empty beer cans in the car, Campos said.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
