Watch: Indiana officers rescue woman trapped in submerged car in Hamilton County

Thanks to an observant truck driver and the work of three Hamilton County Sheriff's deputies and a conservation officer, an Indiana woman was rescued from a submerged vehicle.

Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies responded to a report of an inverted vehicle in a culvert, which channels water at the Carpenter Road and 296th Street intersection in rural Hamilton County.

Brent Shaffer, a truck driver from Kokomo, drove past the car and was concerned that it was upside down in the water. He pulled his truck over and walked to the vehicle, trying to listen for someone. He didn't hear anything, so he called 911.

When officers arrived, they didn't know if the vehicle was occupied until they heard knocking, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Lt. Dustin Dixon said.

Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputy Scott Hazel said the driver told officers she had been down there for about an hour. When he touched the bottom of the car, the surface had cooled down, confirming she had been down there for a significant amount of time.

"As underwater as that car was, I didn't think anyone would be alive in it," Shaffer said. "Kind of a miracle she's alive in the first place."

Two Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office deputies and an Indiana Department of Natural Resources conservation officer took off their gear and waded into the water, according to a video from the sheriff’s office.

Billy Doss, an Indiana conservation officer, said he's comfortable with water rescues. Conservation officers work in similar environments year-round, so when he heard the call come through, he figured his experience would be helpful.

The vehicle was blocking the opening of the culvert, so in addition to recent rain, water was quickly building around the car. When Doss arrived, he said the water was up to his chest. As he was working on opening the hatch of the car, he heard a voice.

Doss knew they'd be able to tilt the car upward with a winch. After the car was lifted, they worked to break a window and reach the driver, which you can see from Doss' body cam footage.

The woman was pulled out and taken to St. Vincent Hospital due to complaints of chest pain.

Doss said the area where the car was found was not visible from the road. Only a taller vehicle, like Shaffer's truck, would have been able to see it.

"The real heroes were all the people who got her out the car," Shaffer said.

The happy ending was a welcome change of pace for deputies who often deal with worst-case scenarios.

"For it to be a viable rescue when we get there is amazing," Hazel said.

Doss said it's the kind of work they're called to do.

"I'm just humbled and happy to be on and be able to respond and do my job," he said.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana officers rescue woman from car in water in Hamilton County