Three people were killed on Friday, July 26, 2024, when their vehicle plummeted down a cliff near Devil’s Slide on California’s Highway 1. The accident was reported around 11:40 a.m., prompting an immediate response from police, fire crews, and other first responders.
The San Mateo County Coroner’s office identified the victims as Brylyn Aroma, 36, of Fort Riley, Kansas; Mohammad Noory, 29, of South San Francisco; and Angelica Gacho, 28, of South San Francisco. The gray two-door sedan veered off the southbound side of the road, dropping approximately 300 feet down a steep embankment between Pacifica and Montara.
Emergency responders faced significant challenges during the rescue operation due to the steep cliffs and rough terrain. The car was discovered upside down and submerged in water, and the force of the impact scattered debris from it, complicating recovery efforts.
Rescuers arrived at the car on Friday and recovered two bodies, with a third body not being found until Saturday due to the “hazardous” conditions caused by high tide. The use of heavy machinery was necessary to dismantle the wreckage and retrieve the bodies.
On Saturday, a family friend of Mohammad Noory started a GoFundMe to raise money for the funeral. By Monday, more than $11,000 had been raised. The friend said that Noory was the sole provider for his family. He served as an interpreter for the U.S. Military in Afghanistan. Due to his dedicated service, he was granted a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV). In 2021, Noory moved to the United States to seek a brighter future for himself and his loved ones. Noory was working as an Uber driver and was the driver of the ill-fated car.
According to her LinkedIn, Angelica Gacho served as a communications specialist for the US Army. On her Facebook page, she posted reels about her life on a base and announced her engagement in April. She described her fiancée as the highlight of her military career.
Brylyn Aroma worked as a medic for the US Army and was posted at Fort Riley in Kansas. In March 2023, the First Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment praised her as the “dragon of the week.” The battalion complimented her for acting as a bridge between their soldiers and Allied forces.
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing. The highway was reopened on Saturday after the recovery operation concluded, allowing traffic to resume in both directions.
The crash occurred near the Devil’s Slide trail, a notorious stretch of Highway 1 known for its sharp curves and perilous drop-offs. Due to its treacherous driving conditions and dramatic landscape, this area has witnessed numerous accidents over the years.
In January 2023, a family of four miraculously survived after their car, driven intentionally off the cliff by the father, plummeted over 250 feet down the rocky terrain. The father, California doctor Dharmesh Patel, was later charged with three counts of attempted murder. A judge granted Patel a mental health diversion, allowing him to avoid jail time despite the crash that injured his wife and young children, aged four and seven. Brian Pottenger, a Cal Fire battalion chief, noted the rarity of such survivals, describing the event as an “absolute miracle” given the typically fatal nature of accidents at Devil’s Slide.