Couple stranded overnight after vehicle rolls down embankment west of Calgary

A man and woman travelling west of Calgary Sunday evening found themselves stranded overnight after their SUV rolled down an embankment in a rural area near Waiparous.

In a news release Monday afternoon, EMS said it appears the couple’s vehicle went off the road on Highway 579 near Highway 40 at around 8 p.m. Sunday. The vehicle slid down an embankment before landing 200 feet (60 metres) from the road.

The man and woman were able to get themselves out of the vehicle but could not contact emergency services until the morning.

The couple started a fire to stay warm.

According to EMS, a call came in 14 hours later at 10 a.m. Monday. Cochrane EMS and STARS Air Ambulance responded.

A 41-year-old man was lifted from the scene on a stretcher and flown to Calgary’s Foothills hospital in serious but stable, non-life threatening condition. He is believed to have suffered leg and back injuries.

The 42-year-old female driver was taken by ground ambulance to Didsbury in stable and non-life threatening condition with a shoulder injury.

Both were suffering from mild exposure from spending the night outside

RCMP are investigating the cause of the crash, but do not believe alcohol was a factor.

WATCH: It was a difficult rescue for emergency crews after a single vehicle rollover near the Waiporous Creek area northwest of Calgary. Global1 caught the action.

3:35 STARS called to single-vehicle rollover down embankment