Crews on Monday rescued a father and son whose car had careened 500 feet off a highway in Mariposa County, in what authorities are calling "a miracle."
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The pair were traveling on Highway 49 between Coulterville and Bagby Recreation when their vehicle went off the road and down an embankment approximately 400 to 500 feet, according to a release by the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office.
CBS News reported that the father, 51-year-old Scott Anderson, was traveling with his 11-year-old son when he lost control of his Toyota while making a turn in the rain and the car flipped several times off the cliff and into a ditch.
A CAL FIRE firefighter in the area noticed a down road marker and stopped to investigate when he saw the wrecked vehicle, police said.
A search and rescue team responded to the scene, alongside CAL FIRE and Mercy Ambulance, and sent crews down the hillside to secure the two victims. Authorities said the rescue operation was made difficult by wind and rain pelting rescuers.
Rescuers used 600 foot ropes to pull the father and son up the cliffside and back to the road. They suffered moderate injuries and were transported to a local hospital, according to CBS News. Alcohol and drugs weren't factors in the crash and both victims were wearing seat belts.
The sheriff’s office released video of the rescue, which can be viewed below.
Authorities said they are unsure how long they were down the hill before rescue teams arrived.
Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese told CBS News that the outcome would have been tragic without the "quick response" by all involved.
