Man Who Fell From Santa Monica Cliff Expected to Survive

January 10, 2013 -- Santa Monica Police officials said that a man who fell from the Palisades Bluffs onto Pacific Coast Highway Tuesday is seriously injured but is expected to survive.

Though the exact circumstances of the man's fall are unknown, police said that they are not investigating the incident, which happened around 11 a.m., as a crime.

“It is believed that he is homeless,” said SMPD Spokesperson Sergeant Richard Lewis said Wednesday.

Crossing the guard rails at Palisades Park is a misdemeanor, Lewis said, adding “Many areas of the bluffs aren't safe.”

“It's happened before,” Lewis said of the incident, adding that Palisades Park is a popular spot for homeless people to hang out in Santa Monica.

And many of those homeless people will often hop the guard rails and venture out onto the bluffs.

“A lot of the homeless people will use the opposite side of the fence... to conceal themselves from people while they sleep,” Lewis said. “If they are intoxicated, it makes it harder in such a perilous situation.”

“Some have elaborate homes set up,” he said.

It is unclear if the man fell, jumped or if he was intoxicated, but police do not believe he was pushed.

“Witnesses saw him fall out of the bluffs,” Lewis said. “Detectives will move on to other things. We are not looking at it as a crime.”

His injuries “are serious and he is expected to survive.”

The Santa Monica Fire Department responded when the man fell and treated him. He was then taken to a nearby trauma center where he is recovering.