A scary situation unfolded in Colorado’s Mesa County on the night of October 16, when a vehicle traveled off the road just south of Douglas Pass.

According to Mesa County Search & Rescue, authorities were notified about the incident at about 8:40 p.m. after a passing driver was flagged down by someone who had been a occupant in the vehicle that was involved in the crash. While that occupant managed to make it back up to the roadway, another occupant and a dog remained trapped in the vehicle after rolling about 75 feet down an embankment.

Multiple agencies responded, with Lower Valley Fire Department personnel able to reach the suspect, stabilize the vehicle, and conduct an extrication. Mesa County Search & Rescue then used a low-angle rope system to get a litter down to personnel attending to the rescue subject, with the subject loaded into the litter for transport via a low-angle raise. The subject was safely brought back to the roadway by 10 p.m., then transported via CareFlight for treatment at a hospital.

A follow-up post from Mesa County Search and Rescue indicates that the dog was safely located and placed into appropriate care by law enforcement.

“It’s always a privilege to serve alongside multiple agency partners during rescues,” reads a statement from Mesa County Search & Rescue, “with each team contributing critical skills to ensure a safe & efficient outcome.”

Douglas Pass is located in the Book Cliffs of western Colorado. It’s traversed by State Highway 139 in Garfield County northwest of Grand Junction.