The driver of an SUV had to be rescued by dive teams after driving into Lake Monroe Tuesday morning in Sanford.

It happened around 4:30 a.m. on East Seminole Boulevard at Fort Mellon Park.



The Sanford Police Department said the Chevy Avalanche SUV ended up 200 feet offshore and came to rest on the bottom of the lake with only the rear of the vehicle above water.



A helicopter responded to the scene and dropped flotation devices to the female driver, identified as Karen Louwsma, until dive teams were able to get her to shore. Divers also searched the vehicle to make sure there was no one inside.



Louwsma was examined by Sanford Fire Rescue at the scene and was not injured.



The Sanford Police Department said Louwsma told them she is a nurse and works two jobs. She told police that she fell asleep at the wheel do to exhaustion and doesn't remember at what point she passed out.

