Trapped woman nearly found days earlier

SEATTLE, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- A Washington state woman who was trapped in her SUV for more than a week was nearly found days earlier by a firefighter.

Tanya Rider, 33, is slowly recovering after she spent a week in her wrecked car in a ravine, the Seattle Times reported Sunday. It is believed Rider’s car went off the road Sept. 20 on her way home from the overnight shift at a Fred Meyer store.

She was found last Thursday but two days before that a firefighter searched the area after being alerted by a passing driver, missing her by only 400 yards, the newspaper said.

Her husband, Tom Rider, has criticized authorities for their slow response to her disappearance.