Man Survives Driving Off Cliff, 17 Hours Trapped Underneath Vehicle

Posted on October 30, 2014

iStock/Thinkstock(BOONE, N.C.) — A man in North Carolina survived 17 hours pinned underneath his vehicle after he fell asleep behind the wheel and drove off a cliff, authorities said.

Joseph Woodring’s vehicle fell at least 60 feet when he went off the road in Boone, N.C., on Tuesday night, according to State Highway Patrol.

The crash launched Woodring, 21, from his vehicle, which landed upside down and pinned him underneath it. He was found Wednesday afternoon.

“He was lying on his side. Both legs were pinned under,” Dale Watson told ABC News affiliate WSOC-TV. “He wanted some water so I give him some water.”

Watson said Woodring told him he fell asleep while driving. It took rescue crews an hour to raise the vehicle off him.

Woodring was taken to the hospital with two broken legs, according to the State Highway Patrol.

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