LIVERMORE, Calif. (KRON) – A woman survived a scary ordeal after her car was flipped and partially submerged in rushing water by Lake Del Valle in Livermore, California, for more than 14 hours, firefighters said.
The woman survived by climbing on top of her car and staying there overnight until she was finally spotted by a person camping in Del Valle Regional Park. Firefighters said the victim is lucky to be alive.
Emergency crews determined that the woman had attempted to drive across a rain-swollen creek and cement bridge around 7:30 p.m. Monday. The bridge was flooded, it was dark, and the driver under-estimated how deep the water actually was, according to the Alameda County Fire Department.
Creek and lake water levels were high from recent winter rainstorms.
“It appears the victim attempted to drive across a creek that was moving fairly swiftly due to recent rains, causing her vehicle to overturn in the creek,” officials with the California Highway Patrol Golden Gate Division Air Operations wrote.
“She had to swim out of the vehicle,” Fire battalion chief Kent Carlin said. “[She] climbed on top of the vehicle, then waited it out.”
The victim was stranded and alone all night.
Firefighters received a 911 call at 10:05 a.m. Tuesday from the camper, who reported a car stuck in the middle of flowing water.
Emergency crews responded and found the woman sitting on top of the upside-down car. She was surrounded by a strong, rushing creek current.
A San Ramon Valley Fire rescue team member was lowered with a rope down to the car, and the victim was placed inside a rescue harness.
“The weather cooperated, allowing CHP helicopter to do a short lift, successfully getting the woman (out) of the water,” ACFD told NewsNation affiliate KRON. Video of the helicopter water rescue can be viewed in the video player above.
The woman suffered minor injuries and hypothermia, but “will be OK and was taken to a local hospital,” the fire department told KRON.
“She was actually in good spirits and was talking coherently to us,” Carlin said.. “I imagine initially when this happened it was pretty shocking.”
Carlin said the incident is an example of why drivers should never attempt to drive through water, especially during or after a rainstorm. “It’s more powerful than you think. If it’s rapid moving water, like in this circumstance, that water has a lot of power,” the battalion chief said.