One confirmed fatality in crash near Folsom's Rainbow Bridge

One fatality has been confirmed Thursday morning in a traffic accident near the Rainbow Bridge in Folsom. According to police, the incident involved a solo Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). The vehicle crashed off the roadway just before entry to the bridge on the Historic Folsom side of Lake Natoma. According to police, the vehicle traveled 100 feet down the steep embankment that borders the lower portion of the Historic Folsom Powerhouse Museum parking lot. The vehicle was not visible from the bridge or roadway and is embedded in deep brush that covers the rocky terrain below the western side of the bridge. The vehicle was spotted by a hiker. According to Folsom Police Public Information Officer Andrew Graham, the driver was the solo occupant of the vehicle and is deceased. While the investigation is underway, Graham reported it appears the accident happened sometime in the overnight or early morning hours. At this time, there is little in the way of skid marks to determine the direction the vehicle was traveling or any additional evidence to determine the cause of the accident. Folsom Police and the department's major traffic collision investigation team are performing the investigation. According to Graham, the current location of the vehicle makes it difficult to capture imagery and measurements for their investigation. "It's buried down there really deep in the brush and rocks. It's not easy to see," said Graham. "When the initial call came in from a hiker, it was thought that the incident just happened, but it appears it occurred sometime overnight." Investigators were using drone technology to capture imagery. Officials expect the bridge to be closed for several hours, as the investigation is ongoing and recovery of the vehicle is expected be a challenge. Units responded to the incident at 9:43 a.m., as Folsom Fire Department's Engine 36, Truck 35 and multiple medic units were dispatched with police following the initial 911 call. This is a developing story Gold Country Media will continue to provide updates on.