Body Recovered from Submerged Vehicle off of Scenic Lookout

Scenic Lookout, Maui. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Rescue crews on Maui recovered the body of a man found submerged in a vehicle below the Scenic Lookout off of the Honoapiʻilani Highway on Saturday morning, Oct. 11, 2014.

Fire officials say skin divers who were spearfishing in the area, found the vehicle underwater with a person still inside.

The vehicle was found about 40 feet below the cliff, submerged in about 10 feet of water, and was 30 feet off the shoreline, said Maui Fire Services Chief Lee Mainaga.

The initial call was made at 8:44 a.m., and crews arrived on scene at 8:56 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014.

Fire officials say rescue crews removed the victim from the vehicle and used the department’s Air 1 helicopter to airlift the victim to a landing zone at the scenic point lookout parking lot where police took over the investigation.

In addition to air support, crews responding to the scene included firefighters from Wailuku and Kahului, and an Ocean Safety rescue jet ski.

Police have since identified the victim as Donald Craig Clary, 50 years old from Kihei. Police said the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

A preliminary investigation revealed the vehicle went off the cliff, at the Scenic Lookout, and landed into the waters below, according to police reports.

This incident was classified as an unattended death pending further investigation and the results of the autopsy.

Police had the Scenic Lookout cordoned off during the investigation earlier today.  The road remained open during the recovery effort, but passing motorists reported a slight delay in traffic in the area.