Minn. woman, child escape car fallen in Wis. river - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

MENOMONIE (WKOW) – Dunn County authorities say a Minnesota woman and her daughter are lucky to be alive after the woman fell asleep at the wheel and drove onto an icy river.

According to WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, the 21-year-old woman from Elko, Minnesota, was driving west on Interstate 94 early Sunday morning when authorities said she fell asleep and woke up to find her vehicle in the median just before a river crossing.

Authorities said the woman's car went over an embankment and down onto the ice, where it became partially submerged in the water.  The woman was able to get herself and her 23-month-old daughter out of the car.

Officials closed the interstate briefly early Sunday to get the car out of the river.