One dead after car found underwater next to cliff on Highway 37 in Solano: CHP

(AP Photo/Chris Carlson, file)

(KRON) – One person was found dead after officers discovered a submerged car off a cliff on Highway 37 near Skaggs Island in Solano County Saturday morning, the California Highway Patrol said.

At approximately 6:30 a.m., a CHP officer was patrolling Highway 37 eastbound on Skaggs Island Road when he noticed an overturned car floating on the water surrounded by oil and fluids.

CHP said the accident caused some power lines to fall. There was no information about a power outage in the area.

At around 7:40 a.m., the CHP closed all eastbound lanes of Skaggs Island Road. At 9:16 a.m., the CHP said firefighters recovered a body from the car while the roads were closed.

CHP reopened the roads at 9:55 a.m. after towing the car. They said traffic was backed up for several hours. By 10:45 a.m., all roads were cleared.

Highway Patrol officials believe the car crashed on Saturday and was submerged overnight. “Alcohol may have played a role,” the CHP told KRON4, but confirmation of drunken driving is pending further investigation.

CHP did not release the identity of the driver.