Gainesville Police Corporal Kevin Holbrook said it started before 5:00 a.m. with a broken down vehicle at the exit 17, Atlanta Highway, off ramp from the southbound side of the interstate.
Investigators believe a male driver had mechanical trouble and abandoned his vehicle on the off-ramp without its lights on.
Holbrook said another vehicle took the same ramp and collided with the abandoned vehicle. That driver got out to investigate and heard cries for help.
The second driver, also male, found the first driver who had fallen down a 30 to 60-foot retaining wall, according to Holbrook. The second driver then called authorities.
Holbrook said the Gainesville Fire Department and police responded.
"They did have to use large ladder trucks as well as their personnel to conduct a high-angle rescue to get the individual back up to the top of the roadway so he could be transported for treatment."
Police have not released the names of either driver, but expect to file charges against the first driver, the man who fell.
"It appears that he was leaving the unattended vehicle because he was intoxicated and/or impaired, and we believe that did lead to him falling off that retaining wall," Holbrook said.
The rescue led to traffic delays in the area for a couple of hours.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/5/274426