BELLEVILLE, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- A good Samaritan is being credited with the rescue of a woman who crashed her car into the Passaic River on Monday morning, in Belleville.
But in an exclusive interview with 1010 WINS, Michael James said his U.S. Navy instincts kicked in and he didn't think twice about diving into the frigid waters.
"[It was> just instinct to get in and get her," James tells 1010 WINS. "I guess my training came into action."
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Police Lieutenant John McAloon said the 22-year-old had managed to climb to the roof of her car, but was struggling to stay conscious. That's when Michael James spotted her and jumped into the river.
"It was actually heroic of him to make that attempt, and he was able to hold her up until the officers could throw ropes to both of them, and after several tries the officers were able to reach both of them with the ropes," he said.
Both James and the woman are in the hospital and are expected to be okay.
