A woman’s car went flying 50 feet down a ravine in San Diego’s College Area Wednesday after she reportedly hit a pothole.

The crash was reported just after 10:45 a.m. at 54th Street and Montezuma Road. The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) sent officers to the scene; the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) helped rescue the woman from the car. She is expected to survive, authorities said.

It is believe the woman struck a pothole, which caused her to lose control of her car and veer off the roadway.

Resident Armand Cantarini, who has lived in the area for 42 years, heard the commotion in his neighborhood and rushed outside to see what was happening.

“I heard all the sirens going off and a helicopter,” he told NBC 7.

Soon, he realized there had been a bad accident in the ravine. Cantarini said drivers frequently speed in that area, and more enforcement is needed.

“Just goes to show, they need to look for more of these potholes in the city,” he added, saying he has never seen a crash quite like this in his neighborhood.

No one else was hurt.

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) crews in San Diego have launched a search for a possible missing boater whose vessel was found near Mission Bay – empty but with his identification left on board.

Officials with the USCG 11th District PA Detachment San Diego said lifeguards discovered a 6-foot dingy about one mile west of Mission Bay on Tuesday at 11:50 a.m. The boat appeared to have been abandoned. Inside, officials found identification belonging to Huntington Beach, California, resident Garrett Ferguson, 36, a former U.S. Army service member.

Ferguson, however, was nowhere to be found.

Lifeguards called officials at Coast Guard Sector San Diego's Joint Harbor Operations Center (JHOC) to report the empty boat. On Wednesday, USCG officials announced a search has been launched for Ferguson.

Multiple crews are scouring the waters including USCG rescue helicopters, the Navy’s Search and Rescue Helicopter, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter and San Diego Lifeguards.

The USCG said the search spans from Torrey Pines to the Maritime Border Line. Officials are not sure how long the search will last.

A photo of Ferguson in military uniform was released by the Coast Guard Wednesday, as well as a photo of his abandoned dingy. Anyone with information on Ferguson’s whereabouts can call the JHOC at (619) 278-7033. No further details were released.

Tuesdays is trash day in Rancho Penasquitos. But what is usually a routinely easy chore has become a frustrating task for those whose trash bins are falling apart.

In an online thread, dozens of Rancho Penasquitos residents are complaining about the poor quality of their city-issued trash bins. Some are saying they have replaced the bin themselves and paid it out-of-pocket more than once. Others offered do-it-yourself solutions.

At $70 for every trash can, it's an expense many are not happy about. According to the city, their trash cans are under a 10-year warranty.

"If the lid or the wheels break within the first 10 years, the city will come out to replace them at no cost to the resident," said Matthew Cleary, who oversees the City’s Collection Services Program.

Cleary says there are ways to protect trash bins from damage. Storing the container in the shade, keeping the containers three feet away from other objects on collection days, and not overloading the bins with heavy material are ways to make your trash receptacle last longer.

However, many of the residents we spoke to said their bins haven't lasted more than a few years. Frustrated with the inconvenience and the price tag they are hoping the city will provide them with more durable containers.

The streetlights in San Diego are about to get a high-tech makeover, with the deployment of 3,200 smart sensors, announced Mayor Kevin Faulconer.

At a conference held in East Village at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Mayor Faulconer explained the city is partnering with GE to work on a project unique to San Diego. It will be one of the largest 'Internet of Things' platforms in the world, according to the city. 

"This technology is powerful. Downtown visitors will be able to find parking easily and in real time using a smart phone, and the environmental and transportation data will help Downtown to meet the goals of the Climate Action Plan. This is a huge win for San Diego," said Kris Michell, the President and CEO of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, in a statement.

The smart streetlights will reduce energy costs by 60 percent in the city. With the sensors, the streetlights will transform into a connected digital network that can maximize efficiency for parking and traffic, as well as support public safety and track air quality.

City officials say the sensors can use real-time anonymous sensor data to direct drivers to open parking spaces, help first responders in emergencies, track carbon emissions and identify intersections that can be made safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Moreover, the City will replace 14,000 streetlights with more energy efficient versions, according to the city. The improved version allows for dimming and brightening in public venues manually or automatically, with regards to natural light conditions. It will also reduce energy costs by $2.4 million annually.

"We're honored to be part of this historic transformation," said Maryrose Sylvester, President and CEO of Current, powered by GE, in a statement. "We have a proud history of helping San Diego proactively save energy through efficient lighting, and now we're expanding that same infrastructure beyond energy into a new realm of intelligence."

The project is expected to be completed by fall 2018, but installation of the new lights will begin this summer across the city. Although the city will start with 3,200 sensor nodes, there is potential to expand to another 3,000 points later.

The "Pride of California," a new, floating dry dock unveiled by BAE Systems Ship Repair in Barrio Logan last week will be put to use for the first time Thursday.

USS New Orleans (LPD 18), the San Diego-based amphibious transport dock ship, will be the first to dock at the 950-foot floating repair facility. The ship is scheduled to begin docking at 7 p.m. Thursday, with the process expected to take about five hours, BAE Systems said.

The new dry dock is located at the foot of Sampson Street, near Barrio Logan, and is capable of lifting 55,000 tons. It is the largest floating dry dock in California, according to BAE Systems.

“There’s a lot of excitement that goes into a docking,” said BAE Systems Representative Karl Johnson. “With this being the first time using this dock, it just adds that much more excitement to the docking. It really is a neat thing to see a ship come on of the water. There’s a science to it, and there’s only a few people qualified in the United States to do this kind of thing.”

The maintenance and repairs to USS New Orleans will include work on the ship’s exterior and tanks, its crew living quarters, ship ventilation, and its propulsion and auxiliary systems, according to the BAE Systems contract issued this past November.

The repairs are expected to total up to $36 million, but additional repairs could bring the value of the military-contracted deal up to $51.6 million, according to BAE Systems.

Repairs to USS New Orleans began last month but the repairs at the dry dock will last until around July. The ship will then be put back into the water for the remainder of the repair work, Johnson said.

Work is expected to conclude in March 2018.

BAE Systems’ smaller floating dry dock, “Pride of San Diego,” is currently repairing the guided missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60). The combination of the two floating dry docks has drastically increased BAE’s ship repair capacity, said BAE Systems.

Pride of California is capable of dry docking all naval vessels with the exception of air craft carriers and expeditionary staging base ships, said Johnson. He said the reason is because carriers do not fit under the Coronado Bridge, and staging ships displace too much water.

Pride of California was built in Qingdao, China, and towed to San Diego in December. It’s naming and dedication was held on Feb. 11.

After two months on the road, in snowy cold places around the world, the USA Women’s Bobsled team returned home to the United States this week for some much needed “R & R”.

They drew a pretty good location: San Diego. 

Seven of the 8 women on the team checked into the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center (formerly known as Olympic Training Center) to spend the week working on speed, agility, and strength all the while appreciating the sunshine and warm weather.

San Diegans might complain about the rainy winter, but so far these bobsledders feel like it’s a slice of heaven.

"I love California, this is like the best place on earth," said bobsledder Brittany Reinbolt.

The team arrived in Chula Vista Monday night after being out of the country since Dec. 30.

They will spend just under a week at the center, training with two-time Olympic medalist Elana Meyers Taylor, who grew up in Oceanside.

Bobsledders spend an enormous amount of time working on their explosiveness and very little time on the actual bobsled track.

“If you think of basketball players they can go on the court and take a bunch of shots and practice their skills, for bobsled we're actually only on the ice for two minutes a day," said Jamie Greubel Poser.

Greubel Poser drove her sled to a bronze medal at the World Championships in Germany last week, while Meyers Taylor continued her dominance winning gold.

But along with lifting weights and doing sprints, the women said they are excited to soak up as much vitamin D as possible before heading off to Korea.

“It’s a nice little vacation before we head to South Korea," said bobsledder Kehri Jones. "Cuz we’re not bobsledding. It’s not cold outside, it’s not snowing. We don’t have to run on ice. It’s just—it’s a perfect getaway.”

Being in Southern California also meant spending some time on the beach, of course.

They even took a bit of their sport along with them, building a bobsled out of sand during a trip to Mission Beach.

“Yes, we’re still doing our training, yes we’re still intense, but we get a lot of vitamin D, which we’re solely lacking all year,” said Meyers Taylor.

The Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea are less than a year away.

A pickup truck caught on fire at southbound Interstate 163 near Robinson and University Avenue amid rush traffic on Wednesday, confirmed California Highway Patrol (CHP).

At about 4:23 p.m., there were several reports of a white pickup truck billowing smoke. San Diego Fire-Rescue crews responded to the scene, said CHP Officer Robert Cantano.

When they arrived, crews found the truck fully engulfed in flames. CHP officer Cantano says no one was injured in the fire.

Check NBC 7's traffic page for instant updates on traffic congestion on the I-163 around the truck fire and surrounding areas.

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news.

A 30-year-old woman from out of town went missing near the Sunset Cliffs area of San Diego on Sunday morning, San Diego Police (SDPD) said.

Amanda Cruse had arrived in San Diego on Saturday, Feb. 18 and visited Sunset Cliffs.

Police said the next morning, she may have gone back to the area of Sunset Cliffs and Monaco Street to take photographs of the sunset.

She is described to be 5-foot-3, 115 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Cruse was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt, blue jeans and black, white converse shoes. 

Anyone with information is asked to call SDPD at (619)531-2000.

MiraCosta College introduced a free tuition program on Wednesday which includes providing money for instructional supplies for students.

MiraCosta Promise will provide full tuition for a year and money for textbooks and other school supplies for eligible students who commit to the program's requirements.

To be eligible, students must fulfill the following requirements:

• Graduate from an accredited high school near the MiraCosta Community College District in spring 2017
• Apply to attend MiraCosta College for fal of 2017 and 2018 semesters and enroll in 12 units or more
• California resident
• Fill out FAFSA or Dream Act application by May 11, 2017

A UC San Diego astrophysicist contributed to research that supported NASA's discovery of a cluster of seven planets, three of which could potentially support life.

NASA and a Belgian-led research team announced Wednesday that they discovered a cluster of planets less than 40 light-years from Earth. Seven planets were found, and three of them could possibly be habitable for life.

Adam Burgasser is a physics professor at UCSD's Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, who was part of the research team of about three dozen scientists that found the planets. The team is filled with collaborators all over the US, Spain and parts of Asia.

He's known about this for over a year but had to keep the discovery confidential. Burgasser told NBC 7 these new findings open up a galaxy of possibilities that life might exist beyond earth.

"These kind of questions about whether there is life beyond earth are questions that I think scientists have been asking since we saw earth as a system. And now we're actually poised to look at specific locations where we could actually answer that question," Burgasser said.

Burgasser and the international team of scientists have been looking at the Trappist-1 star for more than a year. The star is a low-mass, dim red star, not visible to the human eye without a high-tech telescope.

"It's not the first time we've ever found a habitable, earth-sized planet around any star. There are about a dozen of those known, including earth by the way. We've known about that one for a while," Burgasser said.

"But this is the first time that we've both found these kinds of planets around a very low mass star and more importantly found multiple planets that are potentially in that habitable zone around any star."

With the help of advanced telescopes from Chile, Morocco and one orbiting the sun, they were able to find the planets. At least seven earth-sized planets are orbiting the Trappist-1 star, in the Aquarious constellation.

The team used the transit technique which entails watching the planet pass in front of the star for 20 days, using the NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Burgasser and the team of scientists were able to observe many dips in front of the star as seven planets passed by.

The system is relatively close in terms of outer space -- only 40 light years away. That means it would take about 40 years for light from these planets to be seen on earth.

Scientists will need to study the atmospheres in order to conclusively determine whether these rocky, terrestrial plants could hold some form of life.

Certified Financial Planner Mary Beth Storjohann is hardcore when it comes to saving for retirement.

"There is no excuse for not contributing to your retirement," says Storjohann, the founder of Workable Wealth.

She understands how people can feel buried under credit and student debt but she says you still need to make some sort of contribution to a retirement account.

"Your future self needs you to start saving today."

According to a working draft published in the Washington Post, two-thirds of Americans aren't using their company retirement savings plans.  The numbers come from a review of census information.  It says that nearly 80 percent of Americans work for employers that offer retirement programs, whether 401(k) or 403(b), but only 32 percent of workers sign up for the accounts.

Storjohann says that needs to change.

"If you're looking at your employee sponsored 401(k) plan or retirement plan and they offer a match and you are not contributing to the plan, you are leaving free money on the table."

The financial planner says people she works with often say they'll contribute to a plan when they meet other financial obligations but she says that could be too late.

"Are they going to be depending on their children to take care of them?  Do they understand that there aren't loans available for retirement?  It makes me worried about these people actually thinking about the long term."

Storjohann says your future self needs you to start saving today.  She says that can be at whatever amount you can afford, but the most important thing is to start saving now.

"If you don't take care of yourself, who will take care of you?" said Storjohann.

Some of the most decorated Marines were honored Wednesday during the unveiling of a memorial at Camp Pendleton.

The new 5th Marine Regiment Purple Heart Memorial honors those wounded and killed in combat.

During the ceremony, Purple Heart recipients were escorted by the Marines currently serving in the 5th Marine Regiment.

The Purple Heart, the oldest badge of honor, is awarded to members of the armed services who died or were wounded in combat.

"This monument today is a testament of not just our combat wounded Marines and our fallen Marines, it pays tribute to our veterans, it pays tribute to men and women who have pledged to something greater than themselves and defending our great nation," said Col. Ken Kassner, Commanding Officer of the 5th Marine Regiment.

NBC 7 spoke with some Purple Heart recipients who said the ceremony was meaningful and emotional for them. 

"When you're in a war, you're not thinking about yourself, you're thinking about the Marine to your right and the Marine to your left and make sure they're taken care of and safe," said retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Major Martin Vasquez.

Vasquez told us he served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. 

The ceremony was held on former President George Washington's birthday, since he was the one who first introduced the Badge of Military Merit. The Purple Heart was announced on President Washington's 200 birthday.

Family members of a 23-year-old woman who's body was found dumped in unincorporated Escondido said they are relieved an arrest has been made, but are still struggling with why her life was taken in the first place.

Dian Cruz, cousin of the victim, Antonia Herrera told NBC 7, the two shared a very special bond.

"We were two weeks apart so we were very close. We had the same friends," Cruz said.

The victim's family and friends knew her simply as "Toni."

Toni most recently lived in a transitional group foster home in the San Marcos area, but also spent time in Las Vegas.

Authorities said it was when Toni was driving back from Las Vegas with a group of people on Jan. 11, that she was shot inside the car. Her body was dumped along Champagne Boulevard, just off Interstate 15.

Her body were found the next day.

Paul Castro, 27, is suspected of pulling the trigger and arrested on Tuesday.

"During that trip back to San Diego, very near the area where her body was found, Mr. Castro shot and killed Antonia," said Lt. Kenn Nelson with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

Authorities said Castro a known gang member and an acquaintance of Toni's, acted alone.

Meanwhile, Toni's family is still in a state of shock.

"She was just such a lovable person. I don't know what she could have said or have done to deserve this, nobody does. It's just so unreal to us still," Cruz said.

Detectives don't have a motive for Toni's murder at this time.

Castro is currently in police custody in Las Vegas.

He most likely will soon be extradited back to San Diego in the coming weeks to face the murder charge.

Vandals are targeting cars in two different neighborhoods, after reports of 22 cars that had tires slashed in La Mesa.

Several cars in the Kensington and Talmadge neighborhoods of San Diego were vandalized.

NBC 7 spoke to some victims, who voiced their frustration and anger over a possible serial slasher targeting their vehicles and costing them hundreds of dollars.

"People had to go to work. People had to take their children someplace. People take their family members to doctor appointments," said Kensington resident Jocelyn Hough. "No one could do anything."

Hough said one of the tires on her car was slashed and two on her neighbor's car. 

She added that she doesn't understand what the vandals are gaining from slashing tires--saying that it's not as if they are stealing anything.

Residents told NBC 7, at least six cars were targeted overnight Monday on three different streets in Kensington.

Ray Keyes, a Talmadge resident, said he came outside his home to find that his truck had a flat tire. 

"My belief is what goes around comes around. If they do those kinds of things as way of life they don't do well in life," Keyes said.

In La Mesa, at least 22 cars were vandalized Tuesday morning along four streets, the La Mesa Police Department (LMPD) confirmed.

They began receiving several phone calls around 6:30 a.m. reporting vandalism to vehicles parked on Harbison, Stanford, Cornell and Harvard avenues.

According to investigators, the suspects used an unknown sharp object to puncture or slash the tires of cars parked in the area.

La Mesa Police said the vandalism appears to be a random act; no arrests have been made.

The investigation is ongoing and police are looking into whether the crimes in La Mesa, Kensington and Talmadge are related.

Women with active genital herpes infections early in their pregnancy were twice as likely to have a child with autism than women who did not, according to a study released Wednesday.

NBC News reported that the study, published in the journal mSphere, adds to evidence that some cases of autism may be caused by the mother's immune response to infections.

The team from Columbia University and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health believe that the mother's reaction to herpes infection may be crossing the placenta and affecting the fetus' developing brain. A 2013 study found a similar rise in autism rates in pregnant women who had flu.

"We are now looking at other triggers. We think that a wide range of different types of infections can cause this," said Dr. Ian Lipkin, a Columbia epidemiologist and infectious disease expert who oversaw the research.

San Diego County Sheriff's deputies are investigating the death of a woman who was hit by a train in Encinitas.

The incident around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday on the railroad tracks near Coast Highway 101 and Diana Street.

The woman ran toward the tracks and was hit, deputies said.

Her significant other found the woman and took her to Scripps La Jolla Hospital where the woman died, according to deputies.

Deputies estimate the southbound BNSF Train was traveling at approximately 50 mph when the woman was struck.

Anyone with information about this case can call the Sheriff's Department's non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200.

Public-facing documents scrubbed from the White House's website shortly after President Donald Trump was inaugurated — including White House visitors' logs, waivers of ethics regulations and a host of other records — still haven't been replaced, fueling advocates' concerns about the new administration's transparency, NBC News reported.

During the first week of February, 31 databases — reporting legally mandated White House payroll reports to Congress, budget documents, White House visitor records and public response documents — were removed from the White House Open Data portal, the platform created to disclose information about 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and its operations.

The previous presence of the documents was confirmed through publicly available archived versions. Some of the data, preserved by the National Archives and Records Administration, are also available on the White House website of former President Barack Obama.

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Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin says he would like to see "very significant" tax reform passed before Congress’ August recess, CNBC reported.

In his first television interview since assuming office, Mnuchin told CNBC Thursday that he’s been working closely with leadership in the House and the Senate to get the ball rolling.

Mnuchin said the administration is mostly focused on a middle income tax cut — a pledge that President Donald Trump ran his campaign on. Trump has promised to release a tax plan in the coming weeks.

Mnuchin added that simplification for business is another focus of the administration’s, and said that he’s focused on canceling out any tax cuts for the wealthy with closed loopholes. He said the administration's tax plan should be judged by the economic growth it could create, rather than by the how much tax revenue drops.

The ones who live and work in San Diego, and make it unique, share their stories in their own words:

Urban Beekeeping
Hilary Kearney sets up backyard beekeeping for people, and explains why it's so important.

Helping Homeless Kids Through Art
The David's Harp Foundation helps homeless kids tell their stories through art.

Trapeze is The Fountain of Youth for 84-Year-Old Woman
Betty Goedhart inspires people to think about age in a different way.

The Art of Autism
Jeremy Sicile-Kira puts other people's emotions into color.

A Public Piano with a Private Story
A man named Bernard and an old piano have a lot in common.

Photos Capture the Memories of Fallen Heroes
Remembering the Fallen Exhibit honors 710 California men and women who died for their country.

Fresno State ended San Diego State’s three-game winning streak with a 63-55 victory Thursday at Viejas Arena.

The loss dropped the Aztecs into 6th place in the Mountain West.

That is notable because the top five seeds in the league earn a first round bye in the upcoming conference tournament and if the postseason started today, SDSU would have to win four games in a row to earn the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Jeremy Hemsley and Dakarai Allen each totaled 13 points to lead the Aztecs.

SDSU fell behind by 11 in the second half but the home team rallied behind its two leading scorers. Malik Pope chipped in with 11 points.

SDSU running back DJ Pumphrey signed autographs and visited with fans before and during the game.

Pumphrey also drew some attention by wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers hat. The NFL prospect later switched to an Aztecs lid and apologized on twitter.

Ironically, around the time Pumphrey switched hats in the second half, the Aztecs went on a 10-0 run to pull within a point of Fresno State.

But unfortunately, the visitors hung on for the victory and moved into 4th place in the MW standings.

Another group of Bulldogs visit San Diego on Thursday.

Top-ranked Gonzaga visits the Jenny Craig Pavilion at 7 p.m. for a conference meeting with the San Diego Toreros.

It will be an immense challenge for USD considering the top-ranked team in the country is 28-0 and has beaten its last 20 opponents by double digits.

San Diego only managed 27 points in a loss earlier this month to Saint Mary’s.