Official:Driver may have saved own life

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - Bradley Busler says he knew something was wrong when his fiancee was an hour late to pick him up from work and she wasn't answering her phone.  So, when he saw the emergency vehicles blocking off Rip Rap Road near Fishburg Road, he was terrified.

"I was just hoping it wasn't her and if it was, she was okay," explains Busler.

Huber Heights Fire Officials tell 2 News they don't know where the woman drove off the road or why but they say she did the right thing by calling 911 and staying in her van.

"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.  The current isn't as fast as it could be but it could be very dangerous," comments Battalion Chief Keith Knisley of the Huber Heights Fire Department.

It took about 20 minutes to rescue the driver from the cold water.  Fire officials say she probably has hypothermia but her fiance is just thankful she's alive.

"She could've rolled it over.  She could've hit a tree going down, anything could've happened.  I'm just glad she's okay," says Busler.

The driver is listed in fair condition at Miami Valley Hospital.

Her fiance tells 2 News that he will probably have to get a new car but that's nothing compared to what he could've lost.