Off-Duty El Portal Police Officer Jumps In Canal, Saves Woman From Sinking Car

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) - An off-duty El Portal police officer saved a woman whose car had plunged into a canal on Tuesday evening.

Officer Angel Lopez was on his way home from work when he saw the woman's vehicle go into the water, according to Miami-Dade police.

Three cars were involved in a crash that sent Sabrina Anderson's car into the canal, police said.

"The lady's car ricocheted off my car, and it made my car go over into the water," Anderson told a local news station. "I'm OK. I'm going to be all right."

Lopez called Miami-Dade Fire Rescue for help before jumping into the water, authorities said.

"He went sliding down the embankment (and) he was able to get to the woman," said El Portal Police Chief David Magnusson. "The window was open, fortunately, and he pulled her out through the window."

With the help of rescue crews, Lopez and the woman made it safely back to shore.

Anderson said she's thankful to Lopez and the fire rescue crew. Lopez's boss was also extremely proud.

"Officer Lopez is a man of few words so to speak, but I can tell you in our conversation he was he was very proud, very happy," the chief said.

(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)