HACKENSACK -- An SUV swerving to avoid another motorist hit a snowbank, went airborne and plunged about 60 feet from the Route 80 Hackensack River bridge before two women in the vehicle were rescued with relatively minor injuries Friday, authorities said.

The driver, Elizabeth Wolthoff, 23 of Bergenfield, apparently swerved on the highway's eastbound lanes, said city Police Director Michael Mordaga. The Toyota Rav4 landed on its tires in an empty lot below, missing the icy river by approximately 40 feet.

"When the [SUV] hit the snowbank it acted almost like a ramp and catapulted that vehicle right over the wall of the highway," Mordaga said.

Snow piled up from plowing was collected at the side of the Interstate, allowing the Toyota Rav4 to launch off the roadway shortly after 7 a.m., the director said.

When city firefighters arrived they found Wolthoff and her passenger, Rebecca Winslow, 25, of Garfield, both alert and talking, but trapped in the partially crushed Toyota, according to emergency responders.

Firefighters covered the women with blankets as they got work cutting away the doors and roof of the intact vehicle, said city fire Lt. Justin Derevyanik, who responded to the crash.

Callers first reported the vehicle had plummeted into the Hackensack River, prompting an initial response from Oradell and Bergen County Police Department divers.

"You're thinking the worst case scenario, but you're hoping for the best," Derevyanik said, adding fellow firefighters quickly learned the Toyota was on land.

"It was a very big relief to know that, hopefully, this was going to be a good outcome," he said.

Firefighters quickly reached the injured women in the Every Ready oil lot below the highway, authorities said. Both victims were in pain, but alert.

"They were completely coherent," Derevyanik said. "They just kept asking how long it was going to be to get them out."

About 20 firefighters worked for approximately 20-minutes to free both women, all while keeping them warm and checking for any severe injuries, he said.

"Everybody used their training and the rescue went very smoothly," Derevyanik added.

The women complained of neck and back pains at the scene and were taken to Hackensack University Medical Center, according to authorities.

Diane Wolthoff, Elizabeth's mother, said her daughter was undergoing back surgery and suffered several broken bones.

"They were really lucky," Wolthoff said. "I was blessed today."

Elizabeth was cut off by a truck and swerved to avoid a crash, her mother said.

State Police Sgt. Jeff Flynn said the crash remained under investigation.

A spokesman at state Department of Transportation, which maintains the highway, did not immediately have information on the incident.

James Kleimann contributed to this report



Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

