Phoenix Fire: Car went off the road on South Mountain

PHOENIX - A woman was taken to the hospital in serious but stable condition Monday afternoon after the car she was driving went off the road on South Mountain.

The incident, according to Cpt. Kenny Overton with Phoenix Fire, happened just after 3:00 p.m. at the three-mile marker on South Mountain. Rescue crews found the car upright about 20 feet below the roadway.

"It rolled a few times, and there was a 22-year-old female patient inside," said Cpt. Overton. "By looking at the damage on the vehicle, it clearly rolled a few times so we don't know if she was going up or coming down, but she did find herself about 20 feet below the roadway."

When the woman was found, fire officials said she was awake.

"The patient was talking and was conscious," said Cpt. Overton. "There was some significant damage to the vehicle."

The car was found upright, which was a key factor for rescuers.

"Our crews anchored the vehicle to a heavy rescue aid and made their way down to the patient with ropes and a basket, and were able to extricate the patient from the vehicle."

The woman was talking to rescuers, and officials said they used a big wheel to get her up the hill. Officials have not explained why the car went off the road in the first place.