Local News in Brief : Driver Survives as Car Goes Off Canyon Road

Aman injured when his car plunged 600 feet over the side of Malibu Canyon Road on Wednesday night struggled back up the canyon’s steep, rocky face for three hours to summon help, authorities reported Thursday.

The driver, Corey Gonce, 25, of Camarillo, was in guarded condition Thursday at Santa Monica Hospital Medical Center with possible internal injuries.

Gonce drove off the side of the winding road in Malibu about 9:30 p.m., 2 1/2 miles north of Pacific Coast Highway, California Highway Patrol Officer Steve Emmons said. Gonce apparently was thrown from the car before it reached the canyon floor, he said.

Two off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies spotted Gonce sitting on the side of the road shortly before 1 a.m. Thursday, Emmons said. Gonce was complaining of pains in his back and neck, and had several cuts and bruises after his rugged climb, authorities said.

“There’s no way to explain it except plain old luck,” sheriff’s Deputy Gary Snelgrove said. “It’s an unforgiving place to drive your car off the road.”