Driver Hospitalized, Ejected From Car After Highway 17 Crash

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — A driver was hospitalized with serious injuries Thursday evening after a crash along southbound State Route 17.

The crash occurred south of La Madrona Drive, around 6 p.m., the California Highway Patrol said.

The driver's Toyota pickup truck went off the east side of the road and onto a dirt embankment about six feet away from the highway, CHP said. The car rolled over and stopped on its roof.

The driver was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the car, CHP said. He was transported to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

It's unclear what caused the truck to veer off of the road, but CHP does not believe alcohol or drugs were involved. The road was likely wet at the time.

Officials shut down the highway for about an hour as they worked to recover the car, CHP said.