Woman pulled from car in Niagara River just before it reached the falls

An intense scene is unfolding right now on the U.S. side of Niagara Falls, where a woman has been pulled via helicopter from a car that crashed into the Niagara River and nearly went over the brink.

BREAKING NIAGARA FALLS ACTION: rescue crews are currently on location at the Niagara Falls State Park for a vehicle in the water close to the brink of the American Falls. Possible person or persons trapped inside.

📹 Samar Hamilton pic.twitter.com/g2nuK5G3gw

— Niagara Action (@NiagaraAction) December 8, 2021

Local reports say the vehicle was only 50 yards (150 feet) away from the massive waterfall when emergency responders reached the woman, whose car was nearly submerged at the time.

Lady in her car in Niagara River which turns into Niagara Falls. It's 30° so I can only imagine how cold that water is pic.twitter.com/qVGSFDMGcB

— Marquis (@IAmQuisB) December 8, 2021

New York State Police have confirmed that the woman was local to the area, in her late 60s, and that she did not survive the ordeal.

No other passengers are believed to be in the vehicle, which as of 2:40 p.m. remained in the water.

Someone drove their car into NIAGARA FALLS 😱 pic.twitter.com/TEj3oFRYj1

— mac n cheese (@shalaynasamone) December 8, 2021

The Buffalo News reports that witnesses called 911 early this afternoon upon seeing a car go into the Niagara River and get swept away by the rapids. An emergency operation was launched immediately.

The Coast Guard had lowered an officer into the car. @WGRZ pic.twitter.com/kemA5xjtuE

— Jeff Preval (@PrevalWGRZ) December 8, 2021

Shortly after 2 p.m., a U.S. Coast Guard officer was lowered on a wire from a helicopter to rescue the vehicle's occupant as dozens of first responders waited to treat the woman on shore.

Just grabbed the car. He’s holding an ax of some kind. He’s at the passenger side. He opened that door.

— Stephen T Watson 💉💉💉 (@buffaloscribe) December 8, 2021

It was a harrowing scene, and witnesses were thrilled when the Coast Guard officer managed to grab hold of the woman through the car's passenger door.

Incredible scene as one individual is rescued via helicopter from car at brink of Niagara Falls. pic.twitter.com/Mf9cJZDxRI

— Tim Wenger (@TimWBEN) December 8, 2021

The pair were carried over to the ground, where the woman was reportedly rushed into an ambulance in a non-responsive state.

Police have not yet said determined why the woman and her car wound up in the river.