Woman ID’d in fatal Seacliff State Beach crash

APTOS — Authorities have identified the 68-year-old Watsonville woman who died Saturday morning when her vehicle went off the bluff above Seacliff State Beach.

Michele Rimando was fatally injured during the crash, which was reported shortly before 8:30 a.m., as identified by the Santa Cruz County Coroner’s Office.

According to the California Highway Patrol, Rimando was traveling into the main beach parking lot on State Park Drive in a 2018 Toyota RAV4 before accelerating over the cliff. The RAV4 crashed adjacent to a picnic area pavilion at the bottom of the embankment.

Rimando reportedly sustained major injuries and was transported by ambulance to Dominican Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead.

The cause of the crash remained under investigation Monday.