Woman survives several days after crashing car 50 feet down from highway

PHOENIX, Arizona (KTRK) -- A woman is alive after a crash sent her off the highway and left her stranded.

Investigators say the 53-year-old woman lost control of her car, went off a highway, crashed through a fence, dropped 50 feet and landed in a tree.

The woman told troopers she stayed in that car for several days before climbing down and searching for help.

Eventually, a rancher and two other men found the woman after following her footprints for nearly 500 yards.

The group found the woman severely dehydrated and with serious injuries in a dry riverbed.

"She was in the fetal position, and there was no movement," said highway operations technician Zach Moralez said.

The woman has since been hospitalized.