GAINES TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Brandon Noorman and Jay Niewiek were driving down Division Avenue near 84th Street late Tuesday night when they saw something waving from the ground. As they got closer, they could tell it was waving from inside a storm drain along the side of the road. Thinking it may be a Halloween prank, they started recording with their cell phones, but actually it was something else.
A woman had fallen into the storm drain.
The woman had gone out jogging at about 9:30pm when she stepped on the drain cover and fell in. The cover slipped back and trapped her below, standing in waist deep water, and in the dark. She was able to find a piece of styrofoam and was waving it to try and flag down a passing car.
She had been in the drain for two and a half hours when Noorman and Niewiek found her. They pulled her out of the drain and called police.
The woman did not want to go on camera, but tells us she is feeling better today with no major injuries. She also says she feels very lucky the two came along.
We talked to the Kent County Road Commission and they came out today and made sure the cover was secure. They said they couldn't find anything wrong with it. They warn that people should try and avoid the covers, especially when they are wet. They also say people tend to steal the covers for scrap metal and if you see one missing, you should call the road commission immediately.
