Two women killed after car fell into Moss Landing Harbor, California

Two women died after their car drove through a gate and fence on Highway 1, fell into Moss Landing Harbor, and landed upside down in the water.

The investigators are attempting to figure out the cause of the accident.

The Acura was found in the harbor at about 2:40 pm on April 10, but the accident may have taken place the previous day, according to California Highway Patrol (CHP). As the tide started to go out, the edge of the rear tire was seen just above the waterline—a dive team from State Parks was called out and discovered the bodies of the driver and a passenger in the car.

The driver was going westbound on Dolan Road and seems to have failed to stop at the stop sign found at the intersection of Dolan and Highway 1 and drove through the fence west of Highway 1 leading into the harbor. It is not clear if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash, the CHP release stated.

The CHP has not revealed the identities of the victims; the Monterey County Coroner’s Office is expected to do so on Monday. A GoFundMe page notes they were two were cousins, and identifies them as Maria Rodriguez and Esther Espinoza.