Ashwin Gowda and co-driver Anoop Kumar miraculously survived a 300-foot fall into a valley and escaped unhurt after their car, taking part in the Rally of Maharashtra, rolled more than seven times before coming to rest on top of a tree, an official said.
The tree prevented the Maruti Esteem car from tumbling another 100 feet into a rocky riverbed. Both drivers walked off relatively unhurt, said Mahantesh, a doctor manning the medical point of the rally. "After rolling seven times, I thought it was all over and stopped counting," said a relieved Anoop Kumar.
He attributed his lucky escape to the roll cage that is mandatory for all cars participating in the rally. Gowda, recuperating in the ambulance, said: "Going down was easy! Walking up the hill was more dehydrating." Mahantesh added: "Ashwin took time to recover from the shock but everything is okay."