Police search for three children after cliff crash kills parents, three siblings

The vehicle plunged off a California cliff killing two adults and three children. Police are still searching for three other children.

Searchers scoured the Northern California coast yesterday for three missing children of a couple who were killed along with three of their other children when their SUV plunged off scenic Pacific Coast Highway onto rocks in the ocean.

The California Highway Patrol said law enforcement officials in Oregon and Washington have been unable to locate the missing children of Jennifer and Sarah Hart at the family home in suburban Portland or with family members and friends.

Jen and Sarah Hart were parents to six children. Three of them died when the vehicle they were in went off a cliff. Three children are still missing.

The truck is seen at the bottom right corner of this image. Photo / CHP

The Harts lived in Woodland, Washington, and recently had a visit from Child Protective Services, Clark County sheriff's Sgt. Brent Waddell told the Associated Press.

He said the sheriff's office later entered the house and found no obvious signs of trouble or violence.

It appeared the family planned a short trip because they left behind a pet, chickens and belongings.

The Harts, both 39, and three of the children were killed on Monday when their 2003 GMC fell 100 feet from an ocean overlook in Mendocino County, about 240km north of San Francisco.

The CHP hasn't determined why the SUV plunged from the overlook.

The dead children were identified as Markis Hart, 19, Jeremiah Hart, 14, and Abigail Hart, 14.

Searchers were looking for Hannah Hart, 16, Devonte Hart, 15 and Sierra Hart, 12.

Searchers were using boats, aircraft and drones to scan the ocean and nearby beach. Choppy conditions prevented divers from joining the search.

— AP