Heritage Ranch man who drove car into ravine in serious condition

A Heritage Ranch man was in serious condition Sunday after driving off the road Friday night and spending more than 12 hours in a ravine, according to CHP Officer David Clays.

Stephen Bradley, 69, was driving a Lexus SC 430 about 1.6 miles past Chimney Rock Road in a rural area northwest of Paso Robles about 10 p.m. when he drove into the ravine. He said he ran off the road while swerving to avoid hitting a deer, Clays said. Neither drugs nor alcohol is believed to be a factor. The accident is under investigation, Clays said.

After the car tumbled down the embankment, Bradley — who was wearing a seat belt — managed to get out out of the vehicle, but he was unable to get back up to the roadside or find his phone because of severe injuries, Clays said.

The car was obscured from the roadway, and there was little evidence that an accident had occurred, Clays said.

The next morning about 10:30 a.m., Steve Banta, a retired PG&E troubleman, was driving by the location of the accident and noticed a snapped guideline near a power pole. He pulled his car over and looked down to get a pole number when he saw Bradley’s car mangled at the bottom of the ravine, Clays said.

Banta, a former volunteer fireman, ran down to help Bradley while Banta’s wife called 911.

Cal Fire, CHP and San Luis Ambulance helped to rescue Bradley. He was taken to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, Clays said.

As of Sunday afternoon, Bradley was in serious condition in the intensive care unit, according to hospital spokesman Ron Yukelson.

This story was originally published April 10, 2016 at 5:08 PM with the headline "Heritage Ranch man who drove car into ravine in serious condition."