Woman airlifted by CHP after getting stranded in Lake Del Valle

A harrowing but successful rescue mission took place Tuesday morning when first responders airlifted a woman trapped on top of her overturned car, which was stuck in a rushing current in Alameda County’s Lake Del Valle, officials said.

The Alameda County Fire Department said the woman was stranded for nearly 15 hours before being spotted by a camper in the area who called for help. She spent the night on top of her overturned car surrounded by water after getting stuck at about 7:30 p.m. on Monday. She wasn’t saved until after 10 a.m. on Tuesday. 

A video posted by CHP Golden Gate Division Air Operations shows first responders arriving by helicopter, securing her in a harness and lifting her from the overturned car.

According to the CHP, “ it appears the victim attempted to drive across a creek that was moving fairly swiftly due to recent rains causing her vehicle to overturn in the creek.”

“She was very thankful and she was very happy to get out of there,” said Shaun Bouyea, a flying officer paramedic with CHP. Bouyea was the hoist operator during the operation.

The woman’s quick thinking to exit the car and wait for help on top of the car likely saved her life. 

“If she did not get on top of the car she easily could have died due to the exposure or the running water,” Bouyea said. The paramedic said he’s seen near-fatal and fatal episodes when people are trapped in cold water for as little as 30 minutes. 

Lake Del Valle is a reservoir in rural southeastern Alameda County about 15 minutes outside of Livermore. Bouyea said his team conducted a similar rescue in almost the same spot in 2012. 

Along with CHP, first responders from Alameda County Fire, the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, East Bay Regional Park District and the San Ramon Valley Fire Department assisted with the operation.

The woman was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.