VIDEO: Mo. Cop Saves Drowning Woman

A St. Charles County (Mo.) Sheriff's deputy is being hailed as a hero after he pulled suicidal woman from her vehicle after she drove into the icy waters of the Mississippi River.

Deputy Mike Hoefle, who was working a secondary job providing security at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, spotted a Hyundai at 9:04 p.m. Friday heading into an area that had been closed since sunset.

He followed the vehicle, as it crossed a parking lot and went down a rocky bank into the river. Deputy Hoefle waded into the water and used a tool to break the rear passenger window so he could pull the woman to safety, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The woman told the officer she had wanted to commit suicide.