A woman was rescued this afternoon after her vehicle went into the waters of Lake Gaston in the Henrico area near Washburn’s Marina.

Roanoke-Wildwood Volunteer Fire Department Chief Lorenzo Wilkins said fire and rescue personnel were dispatched to the scene on River Road shortly after 4 p.m.

The vehicle went down an embankment and into the water, Wilkins said. The vehicle, with the exception of the roof, was submerged.

The vehicle’s sunroof was open and the woman was standing in the area.

Northampton County EMS and rescue swimmers from Roanoke-Wildwood and Gaston went in the water to get the woman out.

An extrication tool was used to cut the roof and get the woman to safety.

It’s not immediately clear how the woman ran off the road. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating.

As of this report the vehicle had not been removed from the water.

Wilkins said the training firefighters and EMS go through is crucial in calls like this. “It’s extremely important because of situations like this to have first responders trained in water rescue. It pays off with situations like this.”