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Woman Rescued After 2 Cars Go Into Water In Nutley, N.J.

NUTLEY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Two cars plunged into a river, and a woman was pulled from the water, in Nutley, New Jersey Thursday afternoon.

As CBS2's Andrea Grymes reported, the driver who was pulled from the water was lucky to be alive.

Around 3:30 p.m., the 79-year-old woman driving a 2015 Nissan Murano went through a fence behind a CVS drugstore drive through and parking lot on Harrison Street in Nutley, and then another fence about 50 feet away. Debris covered the parking lot of an apartment building behind the CVS.

The woman's car ended up plunging 12 feet into the Third River, police said.

This is scary. It's scary. It really is," said Edwin Rios, who lives nearby.

Rios said he returned home to the frightening scene.

Police said it appeared the woman hit an unoccupied car, which also ended up in the Third River.

Both vehicles were lifted out of the river by crane. First responders were able to get the woman out of and perform CPR, and she was taken to a local hospital, police said.

The woman was the only person injured, police said.

"I saw her car. Her car was pretty banged up," Rios said. "Both cars are totaled for sure."

Another man arrived on the scene as the two cars were being lifted out of the water.

"The only thing I just seen the two cars was pulling out, and then the white car," said Nick Williams. "I just prayed for the woman, right off the bat, I just started praying. But they say they got her pulse and everything and got her back breathing, that was it."

CBS2 spoke off camera with the owner of the white car that also ended up in the river. He said he is more worried about the woman than his own vehicle.

Police late Thursday said the woman was alive, but there was no word on how seriously she was injured.

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