Several people who witnessed a rollover accident Saturday night in Council Bluffs, are being credited with saving the life of a 54-year old Council Bluffs man who nearly drowned as a result of the crash. Council Bluffs Police says officers were called to the area of I-80 East Bound at the South 24th Street/I-29 North Bound Exit Ramp for a single vehicle accident that happened a little after 9:45-p.m.

Authorities say a Pontiac Grand Prix was traveling east bound and left the roadway and grazed a road sign at the beginning of the exit ramp split. The vehicle then re-entered the roadway and veered left, where it struck a light pole, continued off the roadway on the south side of the exit ramp, and came to rest at the bottom of the ditch, submerged in waist deep water.

Witnesses, who saw the accident, were able to get the unconscious, unidentified driver’s head out of the water. Council Bluffs Medics arrived and removed the driver and transported him to a local hospital where he is being treated for his injuries. The crash is still under investigation. The exit ramp was closed for over 2 hours while the Council Bluffs Traffic Unit investigated the accident.

Bluffs Police Sgt. MJ Brinkman said “We would like to thank the citizens of Council Bluffs and the surrounding cities for their quick action to assist the driver in his time of need.”