The vehicle in the water near the village of Kalo was reported at about 8:16 p.m. By 9 p.m., the woman had been brought safely to shore and was in an ambulance headed to UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center.

The woman drove the van down the boat ramp at Henderson Access and into the water, according to Otho Fire Chief Marty Smith. The current then pushed the van downstream a couple hundred feet. It was submerged up to its windshield.

Webster County Emergency Management Coordinator Dylan Hagen, one of the first rescuers to arrive, could see the woman moving inside the van. He advised 911 dispatchers that the van was occupied and a rescue would be necessary.

Fort Dodge firefighters took a motor boat out to the van. They used a tool called a center punch to shatter the driver’s side window. Then they were able to open the driver’s side door and pull the woman into the boat.

Firefighter/EMT Aaron Campbell and Firefighter/Paramedic Andy Midtling got the woman out of the van while Firefighter/Paramedic Jason Reynolds steered the boat.

Once aboard the boat, the woman was taken to Henderson Access, placed on a cot and loaded into an ambulance.

The Henderson Access boat ramp is located off Nelson Avenue.

Firefighters from Otho and Fort Dodge, Webster County sheriff’s deputies, Iowa State Patrol troopers and Webster County Conservation rangers responded to the incident.

The van was removed from the river Sunday.