After a near-death experience, the driver of a car that went plunging into the Chesapeake Bay Bridge is sharing her story of survival.
Morgan Lake was driving over the bridge Friday night when a tractor-trailer slammed into the back of her car.
"Everything around me exploded," Lake said. "Glass everywhere, airbag in my face and I felt that this was it."
The impact of the accident caused her Chrysler Sebring to plunge off the bridge into the Chesapeake Bay.
"I didn't hit the water immediately. I was in air and in the air is when I felt that I was gone."
The Sebring went under the water while Lake was still wearing her seat belt, and water began to rush into her vehicle.
"The longest part was under the water, because I had time to think I was going to die and the time to process, to change my mind and to stop fighting and to relax my body and unbuckle my seat belt to swim out."
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Lake managed to swim in the cold, dark water with her eyes closed to reach land.
"I swam out my window and pushed off my car to get a little more momentum to go up. It took me awhile to get up to the surface, and I didn't want to end that way so I saved myself and swam to the rocks."
Rescuers arrived to the scene and she was flown to shock trauma in Baltimore. Lake is now recovering at home and uses a walker to get around. She credits her ability to swim and her faith for getting her through the ordeal.
"I just hope that I can inspire everyone not to give up and that you can be your own superwoman or superman."
