Ortega Highway Fatality Ruled Suicide

The man who drove off the Ortega Highway and plunged to his death last week committed suicide, according to the CHP.

Bijan Momtaz, 41, of Mission Viejo, was pronounced dead at 12:17 p.m. Aug. 29 after rescue officials located his body 350 feet down a steep highway drop-off.

According to witnesses, Momtaz was traveling eastbound and drove directly into the westbound lane and over the highway's edge without braking.

No passengers were in the vehicle, described as a Toyota 4Runner by CHP.

"It has been ruled a suicide,” confirmed California Highway Patrol officer Nathan Baer on Sept. 3.

During the investigation, Baer said witnesses told officers that the 4runner did not negotiate the turn and instead made a line across the center divide, across oncoming traffic, and over the edge of the highway.

The spot of highway that Momtaz chose to drive off does not have a guardrail, fence or rock barrier.

Momtaz was ejected and Baer said investigators have reason to believe he was not wearing a safety belt.

The solo crash was reported just after 11 a.m., approximately a half mile west of the Lookout Roadhouse.

According to Baer, because the crash site is steep and remote, the 4Runner was not be extricated from the area.