Downey Man ID'd In Fatal Reservoir Plunge

GLENDORA, CA — A Downey man was killed when his car plunged 300 feet into the Morris Reservoir, Tuesday.

The car Mario Andrade, 43, was driving veered off the road before 10:30 a.m. near the 9500 block of North San Gabriel Canyon Road. According to California Highway Patrol, he was ejected from the car as it tumbled into the basin, below the dam spillway.

The vehicle ended up submerged in about 17 feet of water and no one else was inside the vehicle, the CHP reported, adding that it was "unclear which direction he was traveling or why the car left the roadway."

Dam workers had to shut off the flow of water so that rescuers could get a boat into the water, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
One worker who was clearing brush heard a noise and witnessed the crash, a fire department spokesman said.

Anyone who has information about what happened was urged to call (626) 338-1164 to speak with Officer Rivera, who is investigating the fatality.