Good Samaritan rescues man trapped in submerged car off I-94

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A semi-truck driver rescued a man trapped in his overturned car on I-94 early Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008. (Photo provided)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Feb 19, 2008 at 1:36 PM EST

Story Updated: Feb 19, 2008 at 1:40 PM EST

A passing semi-truck driver rescued a man trapped in his overturned car early Tuesday morning.

It happened in Porter County on I-94 near the 32 mile marker, two miles west of the U.S. 421/Michigan City exit.

Ernesto Soto, 49, of Gary, was driving east on I-94 when he hit black ice and lost control of his Chevrolet Cavalier. The car slid off the road and down an embankment, landing on its roof in a ditch filled with chest-deep water.

According to the Indiana State Police, Soto, who was hanging upside down in the water-filled car, was able to undo his seat belt and crawl to the back seat where he found a pocket of air.

Leonard Roach of Villa Park, Ill. was driving his semi-truck behind Soto and saw the accident. He stopped his semi and ran down the embankment to search for the driver. Roach pried open the back door of the car and helped Soto escape.

Neither Roach nor Soto was injured. Soto's car is totaled.

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