SAN DIEGO – A wrong-way driver was killed early Monday morning after he drove his car off a cliff near Mission Trails Regional Park in Santee and landed in a ravine.

Shortly after 12:30 a.m., the 66-year-old San Diego man was going east in westbound lanes of State Route 52, near Mast Boulevard, when he lost control of his Mercedes Benz C230, went off the road and careened into Oak Canyon, according to California Highway Patrol. He plunged 150 into a ravine. CHP reports that the driver had his headlights off just prior to going off the side of the cliff.

Emergency crews had to use a helicopter to find the wreckage. Firefighters had to hike down to retrieve the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene. His name was not immediately available.

A tow truck was called to remove the vehicle. One CHP officer described it to 10News as a “ball of metal.”

It is unclear if drugs or alcohol played a factor in the crash.