The woman’s car flew off a highway and landed on a tree while she was traveling on national route 60 near Wickenburg, about 50 miles (80 kms) north of Phoenix. She lost control of her vehicle on October 12.
Crashing through a highway railing her vehicle plunged 50 feet (17 metres) down into the tree where it remained suspended above the ground, AFP reported citing state troopers. There were no apparent witness to the crash and it would be six days before the woman would be discovered by authorities.
Six days later an Arizona highway maintenance crew and a rancher were trying to corral a stray cow when they noticed the broken fence and then the mangled vehicle still lodged in the tree.
A trooper, who was searching for person at the site, could not find anyone inside the car, but discovered “human tracks” leading towards a river bed. After following, the tracks for 500 yards (457 meters) the rescuers found the severely dehydrated woman with serious injuries, without identifying her.
It was found that the woman had stayed inside her vehicle for several days before she climbed out and tried to walk towards railroad tracks in the hope to be found by someone. But she was too weak to make it. She was then taken by helicopter to hospital after her rescue.