Crash victim: 'God watched out for me'

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The driver whose minivan plunged into the Great Miami River Thursday night is talking about her ordeal.

By most accounts, Taunya Jacobs is very lucky to be alive .

Her van shows the scars of what happened, mud caked all over it and smashed windows.

Taunya says she was driving near Rip Rap Road when her brakes gave out.  Suddenly, her mini-van became a two ton missile.

"I just didn't want to hit the car in front of me and with my brakes, I tried to go on that bike path," said Jacob.

Taunya's van crashed through the trees and into the Great Miami River.

The first reaction of many would be to try to escape, but Taunya stayed put. "It's safer to be in the car than out than be in the current. Maybe if I'm in the car they'd find me."

Rescue workers say that decision is what saved her life.

"She did a very wise thing. The current is fast enough, like I said, the water is waist deep and it doesn't take very deep water to drown," said Chief Keith Knisley, Huber Heights Fire Department.

Taunya had one other thing going for her that night. Despite the crash, her phone stayed dry so she could call 911.

"The phone was in my shirt and dry and I couldn't get through and I couldn't get through and they called me back and asked if I was calling and I said yes."

Rescuers used a boat to get to Taunya and pull her to safety in about 20 minutes.

She was treated for hypothermia but says today she's just sore.

Looking at her van can be tough. She'll likely never get in it again, but she'll always remember how staying in it kept her safe.