An injured woman waited 18 hours for help after her car ran down a steep bank near Apiti, 45km northeast of Feilding.
Rescuers said the 37-year-old woman was found about 1 pm yesterday.
She had spent the night out in the open after managing to crawl just a few metres back up the 100m drop.
WestpacTrust rescue helicopter crew chief Dave Greenberg said the ordeal had left her with moderate injuries and mild hypothermia.
He understood the accident happened about 7 pm on Saturday. She was travelling alone.
"She was either thrown or escaped from the car ... and she crawled about 10m back up the bank towards the road - but that's as far as she made it."
Mr Greenberg said local ambulance officers treated the woman at the accident site before she was winched on to the helicopter with the help of one of two paramedics on board.
The woman was taken to Palmerston North Hospital.
Senior Sergeant Dave White of Palmerston North said police would talk to her about the crash later.
- NZPA
Crash victim waits 18 hours for rescue
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