(Photo Credit: 1480 News Now)

KOSCIUSKCO COUNTY, Ind. (WOWO): Kosciusko County police say the driver of a jeep drove off a bridge and into water after being distracted by a squirrel.

Kosciusko County Sheriff's Deputies and EMS crews were called to the scene near the Barbee Ladning shortly after 5:00 p.m., Saturday evening.

Officers arrived and learned that the driver, 18-year-old Shelby Pontius of Warsaw, had been traveling northbound on the Barbee Lake Road when her attention was distracted by a squirrel that had ran into the roadway. She then drove off the pavement, onto the bridge guardrail, eventually overturning into the channel.

Pontius was rescued by 24-year-old Nathan Maibauer of Michigan City, who had been fishing near the bridge. Pontius refused medical treatment by North Webster medics.