Deputy saves woman who drives into river

WEST ALTON, Mo. -- An eastern Missouri deputy is being credited for saving a woman after she drove into the Mississippi River.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch said St. Charles County deputy Mike Hoefle was off duty Friday night when he saw a car race past him toward a closed recreation area. He saw the car drive through a parking lot and into the icy water.

Hoefle yelled to the woman but got no response, then saw her struggling to escape.

He shined his flashlight toward the river in case he got disoriented, then waded into the water and used a tool to break a rear window and pulled her to safety.

The woman told Hoefle she was suicidal, but she was thankful he saved her. She was hospitalized for hypothermia.