Woman rescued from roof of car after crashing into Fresno canal
The woman was taken to a hospital. She is expected to be OK.
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A white car was stuck in a canal as crews tried to figure out how to remove it.
Moments before, a 30-year-old woman crashed into the canal after police officers say she fell asleep behind the wheel.
One of the witnesses indicated that a head-on traffic collision almost occurred," says Fresno Police Sgt. Paul Cervantes.
According to officers the woman hit a guard rail, which then sent her car careening into the water.
"It made a big, big noise," says Lonny Collins.
A construction worker, Collins heard the crash and rushed over to the canal.
By the time he got there, the woman had made her way out of the car on was holding on the roof.
"Current was strong, she was barely hanging on to the roof," Collins said.
Collins, along with his co-workers, rushed to help rescue the woman.
"The only thing we had was a two-inch fire hose," he said. "We tied a knot at the end of it and tossed it out there to her, and she grabbed it and we pulled her to the side."
By the time first responders arrived, the group had helped the woman out of the water.
She was taken to Community Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. Officers say she's lucky she escaped with her life.
"Only by the grace of God, she didn't actually get further injured," Cervantes said.
Investigators do not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash.
