A driver has miraculously walked away after their pickup truck plunged nearly 300ft from a notorious mountain road.
Worried witnesses called emergency services after seeing the vehicle veer off the Million Dollar Highway – a stretch infamous for its sheer drops and hairpin turns.
The truck, believed to be a pickup, tumbled hundreds of feet into the Uncompahgre River Gorge before coming to rest in mangled wreckage at the bottom of the cliff.
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Remarkably, rescuers said the driver escaped with only minor injuries.
The dramatic crash happened on Thursday (Oct 9) at around 12:20pm, between mile markers 88 and 89 on US Highway 550, near the tiny town of Ouray in Colorado, US, as reported by Need To Know.
Emergency crews from Ouray County EMS, the Ouray Volunteer Fire Department, and the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team raced to the scene.
A technical rope rescue was launched to reach the driver, who was alone in the vehicle when it went over the edge.
Photos from the scene show the crushed truck lying among rocks and debris, barely recognisable.
The Million Dollar Highway – part of a scenic but treacherous route through the San Juan Mountains – is notorious for its steep cliffs, sharp bends, and lack of guardrails.
Earlier this year, on 5 August, the same road claimed two lives when a car rolled down Red Mountain Pass, leaving a young passenger injured.
Investigations into both crashes are ongoing, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
The Ouray Mountain Rescue Team has warned drivers to take extreme care, particularly as winter weather approaches.
A spokesperson said: “Conditions can change fast. What starts as a scenic drive can turn dangerous within minutes.”
Social media users were quick to praise the rescue operation.m
“Amazing effort from this team! We’re very fortunate to have you around,” one person commented.
“Thank You!! It’s a miracle,” wrote another.
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