On the morning of Thursday, June 9, a 32-year-old woman died in a fatal car crash on Pacific Coast Highway just south of Deer Creek Road in Malibu.
The woman, who was identified as Danika Merlo by Ventura County Health Care Agency Medical Examiner Supervisor James Baroni, was traveling southbound on PCH when her 1996 Ford Explorer swerved off the road. The vehicle fell about 70 feet to the shoreline and landed on its roof, according to California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer Rolando Tejeda.
Merlo, a resident of Ventura, was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
Tejeda said “a motorist called 911,” and Ventura County Fire Department and CHP were dispatched to the scene at approximately 8:48 a.m., though the exact time of the crash is under investigation.
“Upon arrival, they located the driver, who was deceased on scene,” Tejeda reported.
According to an obituary submitted to The Malibu Times, Merlo “[had gone] to the beach to reflect upon hearing of the death of her grandfather.”
The obituary states that Merlo was born in Glendale, but “spent most of her life in Malibu, graduating from Malibu High … In recent years, her home has been in Ventura, with her son.”
CHP is interested in speaking with any possible witnesses.
“Everything is still under investigation,” Tejeda explained. “We’re highly encouraging anyone who may have witnessed something to please give us a call.”
Motorcyclist dies on Kanan-Dume Road
Early morning on June 13, a 35-year-old male from Westlake Village was killed in a crash on Kanan-Dume Road in Malibu when he lost control of his motorcycle.
“He was approaching a curve in the road when he lost control and collided with the hillside,” CHP Officer Edgar Figueroa told The Malibu Times Tuesday afternoon. The driver had been riding a BMW motorcycle southbound on Kanan-Dume Road, “just north of PCH.”
The crash, which took place at approximately 1:38 a.m., resulted in the ejection of the driver, who died on scene, Figueroa reported.
Calls to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner — Coroner’s office for identification were not returned as The Malibu Times went to print.