04 October 2011

Coroner IDs Man Found in 2nd Car in Ravine

Coroner IDs Man Found in 2nd Car in Ravine

The Los Angeles County Coroner on Tuesday confirmed the identity of a body found in a vehicle at the bottom of a 200-foot ravine off a mountain road in the Angeles National Forest last week.

Melvin Gelfand, of Los Angeles, was identified through dental records, said Lt. Fred Corral of the Coroner's office.

Last week, NBC LA was able to identify Gelfand as the owner of the crashed vehicle, although the coroner's official report was not released until this week.

Gelfand was last seen Sept. 14. His family said the 88-year-old was headed to a casino in San Diego, but never made it.

His body was discovered while authorities were rescuing another man whose vehicle also plunged off Lake Hughes Road into the cliff.

"We just wanted to thank that courageous family that found their father alive and thank God that they did," said Gelfand's son-in-law, Will Matlack, last week.

"We hope to meet with them and maybe join with them in trying to make this road safer. Because, you know, how many cars have to run off this road a week? One or two a week? Should that be enough to make it a safer road? I would think so. So that's one of the things we're focusing on now," Matlack said.

Dave LaVau, 67, survived six days before rescue.

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