Family rescued after being trapped in car hanging off cliff

UNDATED -- It was a dramatic race to the rescue in southern California when a mother and two daughters ended up hanging off a bridge after a car crash.

One of those daughters was just 10-months-old and strapped into a car seat in the back of the car. Amazingly, some people nearby were able lend a helping hand and save that family.

It was the kind of accident that makes you avert your eyes…how could there be any survivors?

It happened last Thursday afternoon on a curved stretch of California Highway 101, north of Santa Barbara.

A small car, a BMW sedan, was mangled beyond recognition. The other vehicle, a big-rig truck, landed in ravine 100-feet below. Its driver, Charles Allison, was killed.

Police say the truck had rear-ended the car.

"The BMW was then forced into the center concrete wall where the three parties in the BMW became trapped in the vehicle,” said Danny Maher, California Highway Patrol.

The family was trapped and alive, but the shredded vehicle hung precariously as the afternoon wore on over the ravine 100 feet below.

First grade teacher, Kelly Lynn Groves, said her daughters were with her; ten-year old Sage and 10-month-old Milo. Seatbelts, airbags and the baby's car seat had all done their jobs. And dozens of first responders such as fire, rescue, police and hazmat teams, did theirs while facing multiple dangers to themselves, and the car's occupants.

"Each time we tried to pry her out, the car kept slipping a little bit more,” said Woody Enos, Santa Barbara Fire Department.

Then there was an amazing stroke of luck. A team of Navy Seabees just happened to come across the scene. In their convoy was a heavy-duty forklift with a telescoping arm.

"Extremely lucky. We were really lucky that they were there, and that they offered to help," said Enos.

With the wreck stabilized, the victims were extracted. The girls were first, and finally Kelly. She'd been calm, rescuers said.

California officials say the 10-week-old baby slept through the whole ordeal, and say her mother saved her life by using the car seat properly.

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