Seven people, including babies aged three and five months, have escaped unscathed after their 4WD left a Kapiti Coast road and stranded them in the dark for more than four hours, police say.
The vehicle went over a bank yesteday evening and was stuck halfway down a hill in the Maungakotukutuku Valley, inland from Paraparaumu, 53km northeast of Wellington.
The occupants tied the 4WD to a tree to stop it sliding further down.
Police became aware of the accident about 7.40pm yesterday, said Inspector Paul Jermy of police central communications.
One of the group apparently managed to walk to an area that had cellphone coverage and was able to text a friend saying they were in trouble.
The group did not have a great deal of food and only one blanket, Mr Jermy said.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter found the vehicle and passed its location to a police search and rescue team.
Rescuers reached the group about 12.15am. Ambulance staff checked them out but they were fine.
The Maungakotukutuku Valley was the scene of a fatal crash earlier this month when Tiana Law, 16, was killed when the 4WD she was in rolled.
Five other teenagers aged 15 to 19 were injured in the March 10 crash, one critically.
