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It was about 7:00pm when Erding was driving home on an icy stretch of County Road 5 and lost control at a curve, which sent her car up and over an embankment and into the ice-filled Root River below. As her car filled with water, Erding quickly climbed onto the roof via the backseat and made the quick decision to walk on the pieces of floating ice to reach the shore, where she found help at a nearby farm house. A local sheriff said that wearing a seat belt was likely integral to Erdings survival and safety.