Mum and six children 'drugged' before dying in cliff tragedy

The mother, who died with her family after their car plunged off a Californian cliff a year ago, was drunk, while her six children and their other mother were drugged, an autopsy has found.

Jen Hart, Sarah Hart and three of their adopted children died of broken necks after their SUV crashed off a cliff, a forensic pathologist testified during a coroner’s inquest on Wednesday (local time).

The family’s SUV was found partially submerged in the ocean below a rugged cliff more than 250 kilometres north of San Francisco.

A jury will decide whether the deaths of the two women and their six children were accidental or a murder-suicide.

The crash happened just days after authorities opened an investigation following allegations the children, ages 12 to 19, were being neglected.

The bodies of the women were inside the SUV when it was discovered, but one of them fell out as the vehicle was being towed up the cliff off the coast of Mendocino County, Sheriff Deputy Robert Julian said during testimony that was live-streamed online.

Forensic pathologist Greg Pizarro testified Jennifer, who was driving at the time, was drunk, saying an autopsy found she had a blood alcohol level of 0.102.

California drivers are considered drunk with a level of 0.08 or higher.

She was also the only one wearing a seatbelt, he said.

• Mum’s warning after toddler injured when changing table collapsed’

• About time’: Drivers praise police for targeting ‘annoying’ road habit

• Man reacts to young skate park ‘bullies’ grabbing 12yo boy by the throat

• Man dies after going into coma following Bali motorbike crash

• Fish and chip shop owner’s heartbreaking sign on door ahead of closure

Sarah and the children had large amounts of diphenhydramine in their systems, a drug that can cause drowsiness, authorities have said.

The bodies of siblings Markis, Jeremiah and Abigail were found the same day near the car.

Weeks later, the body of Ciera Hart was pulled from the Pacific Ocean.

Mr Pizarro said Ciera’s body was too decomposed and he could not determine a cause of death.

“You can only assume her manner of death was similar to all the other children,” Mr Pizarro said.

Human remains found in a shoe were matched to Hannah Hart through DNA testing.

The remains of 15-year-old Devonte Hart have not been found.

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.

Do you have a story tip? Email: y7newsroom@yahoo7.com.au.

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.