Man Saves Driver From Vehicle Sinking In Lodi Canal

LODI (CBS13) - A quick-thinking bystander saved a woman's life after she drove into a Lodi canal Wednesday and began to sink.

Chris Rea was on his way home from work, just feet away from reaching his neighborhood. But before he made it home, Chris performed one more job for the day: rescuing a woman who drove off Turner Road into the canal.

His wife, Sharon, learned her husband would be coming home late from a neighbor.

"She says, 'I have your husband's keys.' I said, 'My husband's keys?" Sharon said her neighbor also witnessed the accident and offered to drive Chris' car home after he jumped into the canal.

"He was smart enough to take off his cell phone and shoes, but forgot his wallet, so that's all wet," said Sharon. "No big deal, we can dry that."

Lodi police said just after six Wednesday evening, they started getting 911 calls about a car in the Turner Road canal.

"We heard it," said 911 caller Ron Bernasconi. "We live in the house across from the canal. I came out to help, but the man was already in the water. The water was up to his chest."

Bernasconi said he assisted Chris in keeping the driver, Amber Saina, calm.

"We just kind of talked to her," said Bernasconi. "She was in a state of shock. She was panicking. We asked her to recline her seat back, so we could get her out through the window."

The canal was full and the car was sinking fast.

"When we started it was at the base, almost at her lap," said Bernasconi. "Just after we got her out of the car, the water was over the top of the steering wheel."

Emergency crews showed up immediately after the three were out of the canal. Lodi police publicly thanked Chris on Twitter.

"Anytime you're putting yourself in harm's way to help out someone else, it's definitely going beyond your duties," said Lodi Police Dept. Sgt. Mike Manetti.

Sharon wife was not surprised by his heroic act.

"He'll do the right thing is what he'll do," she said. "And that was the right thing at the time and he went right in."

Saina was treated at a local hospital and later arrested for driving under the influence.