A Green Valley woman survived an experience akin to something from a Stephen King horror novel. She spent two days in the mountains in freezing temperatures with her dead husband, who was killed when their vehicle plunged down a steep embankment on the often-treacherous Coronado Trail in Greenlee County.

According to Arizona Department of Public Safety Sgt. Gary Ciminski, Mary Dunton, 59, incurred nonlife-threatening injuries, while her husband, Jack Dutton, died at the scene. The crash is believed to have occurred at about 2 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 27, around milepost 208 near Rose Peak. The Coronado Trail is officially U.S. Highway 191.

The wreck was discovered Thursday by an Arizona Department of Transportation snow plow driver who saw a bent road marker and skid marks leading off the road. Ciminski, from the DPS Springerville District Office, said the Toyota Tundra pickup truck rolled about one-quarter mile down the mountainside. Mary Dutton was ejected from the vehicle about 200 yards down the embankment. Ciminski said that due to some of her injuries, Dutton's eyesight was severely hampered, thus making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for her to climb to the road. He described the terrain as being thick with bushes and other vegetation. "It was very rough and difficult to climb," he said. "It took us 'healthy' people about half an hour to climb up."

Adding to Dutton's misery was a snowfall of about 3 inches Tuesday night. It snowed again Wednes-day. "It was extremely cold. She had to deal with freezing temperatures," Ciminski said. It is unknown if the Duttons had cold-weather gear with them.

Mary Dutton was flown to University Medical Center for treatment. Her condition was unknown as of press time, but Ciminski said he believes her injuries were not life-threatening.

The Coronado Trail, in its run from Morenci in Greenlee County and Alpine in Apache County, is narrow, winding and steep. It is part of the national scenic byway system. There are many hairpin curves, and there are almost no guard rails to speak of. It can take 2-3 hours to drive the 100 miles from Morenci to Alpine, depending on how cautiously one drives.

The trail is popular among motorcycle and sports car groups because of the challenge it offers drivers. It reaches an elevation of 9,000 feet at one point. The road is sometimes closed during part of the winter.