GAINESVILLE, Ga.,None — A Gainesville woman who jumped off a four-story bridge and into Lake Lanier on Thursday morning said she took the plunge to avoid getting hit by a truck that was skidding on ice.
"I didn't think it would be a good idea to stay so I jumped," said Bianca Vera.
The 22-year-old nursing student spoke by phone from her hospital room to Channel 2 Action News reporter Tom Regan.
Vera said she was driving to a college in Dalonegha when her car was struck from behind by another vehicle on a ice covered bridge near Gainseville.
She said the driver kept going.
When she got out to inspect the damage, she saw a tractor-trailer truck headed toward her that she believed was skidding out of control. She feared if she didn't jump off the bridge, she would be hit by the truck.
She plunged four stories in to frigid water.
"When I hit the water, the wind was knocked out of me. I felt like my legs were broken. I was in so much pain," said Vera.
She felt her arms and legs quickly going numb in the 40-degree water.
"How were you able to swim in such cold water?" asked Regan.
"I just knew I had to keep moving. If I didn't keep on moving, I would probably lose consciousness and die there," said Vera.
She said she it took her 45 minutes to make the 100-yard swim to shore. She crawled out onto the shoreline, shaking from the cold water. She spotted the flashlights of emergency responders and called for help.
Gainsville firefighter Russ Grizzle showed Regan the area where Vera jumped and said she was lucky to be alive. He helped to lift her back to the the roadway and awaiting paramedics.
"I am shocked, especially with the water temperatures the way they were. That she was able to self rescue. That's pretty amazing," said Grizzle.
Vera suffered a broken vertebra and bruises. She is expected to be released from the hospital in the next several days.