Emergency services in Mijas carried out a dramatic rescue Thursday, February 13, saving a man who had spent the night trapped in his vehicle after it plunged down a cliff-like embankment in the Puerto Colorado area yesterday evening. The stretch of road, one of the trickiest and highest mountain passes that links Alhaurín el Grande and Mijas Pueblo, close to the Los Condes Venta restaurant, has seen its fair share of terrifying accidents. Last year, the crash barrier at the side of the road overhanging a vertical drop, was left missing entirely for several weeks.

Car rolled all way down embankment

The accident occurred around 8pm on Wednesday along the winding A-387 road near Puerto Colorado, a mountainous pass in the Sierra de Mijas known for its vertigo-giving sharp curves and occasional low visibility. According to reports from the Mijas council and local media, the driver lost control in one of the bends, possibly worsened by dense fog that limited visibility, and the car broke through the protective barrier before rolling down the steep embankment. The vehicle came to rest on the slope, leaving the occupant inside overnight.

The man remained undiscovered until approximately 8.30am, when a passerby (described in some accounts as a hiker or walker) noticed the broken barrier, spotted the wrecked car below, descended to check, and confirmed an injured person inside. He immediately alerted emergency services via the 112 emergency number.

Found next morning suffering hypothermia, but alive

Mijas firefighters, supported by local police, Guardia Civil, medical teams, and road maintenance crews, responded immediately. A specialised mountain rescue operation was required to extract the driver from the precarious position. The man was found conscious but in a state of shock, suffering chest and limb pain, along with various injuries of differing severity and signs of hypothermia from exposure through the night. He was responsive during the rescue and was stabilised before being transferred to Hospital Costa del Sol for further treatment.

Local authorities described the outcome as “miraculous”, saying the driver’s survival after hours in the wreckage on a steep, remote slope. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with no other vehicles reported involved. The incident shows yet again the hazards of the A-387’s challenging terrain, especially in poor weather conditions, a route popular among hikers heading to Sierra de Mijas trails but notorious for occasional vehicle accidents.

No fatalities occurred, and the road has since been made safer again. Officials encourage drivers to exercise extreme caution on this mountainous stretch.