MAHONING TOWNSHIP (KDKA) — Rescuers put their lives on the line Wednesday night thinking they were saving an accident victim, but it was all for naught.

A hunter spotted an SUV at the bottom of a 90-foot quarry near New Castle. He thought there was someone inside because the brake lights would go on and off.

A whole team of rescuers came out, but when they got to the SUV, no one was in it.

It turns out the vehicle was stolen and pushed over the cliff.

Crews tried three times on Thursday to tow the SUV out of the quarry, but the cables broke each time.

Police say the owner of the SUV didn’t know it had been stolen.