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Pregnant woman dies after car crashes into water off highway, CHP says

The woman was a passenger in a vehicle that was heading west when it veered off State Route 4 into a body of water.

STOCKTON, Calif. — A 21-year-old pregnant woman died after a vehicle she was riding in veered off State Route 4 into a nearby body of water Saturday morning.

According to the California Highway Patrol, around 5:15 a.m. a 27-year-old man and his wife were traveling westbound in a 2008 Honda Fit on the highway near Whiskey Slough Road in San Joaquin County. The car veered off the road and crashed into a nearby body of water.

Witnesses told the CHP the car was driving reckless, passing over double yellow lines at 65 miles an hour before the crash. 

Authorities said the man was able to escape from the submerged vehicle, but was unable to find his wife. He flagged down passing motorists after he made his way to shore, the CHP said. 

The CHP said the water in the area ranges from 2 to 20 feet deep and the surface is covered with hyacinth, which limits visibility.

CHP officers were called to the scene but were unable to locate the car. Both a CHP helicopter and a San Joaquin County Sheriff's boat were called to assist with the rescue. 

Officials say rescuers were able to find the car's location, but found two areas of interest, one being identified by a sheriff's office drone. The sheriff's office used an inflatable boat from to shore to check the the area. 

After cutting through the hyacinth, officials were able to access the car, but it was about five feet below the surface and they could not access it, the CHP said.

A Sacramento DART team were able to access the vehicle, but were not sure if it was occupied. The DART connected a cable form a tow company to pull the vehicle out of the water. 

Once the vehicle was pulled out, the woman was located inside the vehicle and was pronounced at the scene, the CHP said.

The CHP said alcohol or drugs were not a factor. 

An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Portions of SR 4 were closed during the rescue operation, but the roadway has reopened according to CalTrans.

WATCH MORE: San Joaquin County crews monitoring site of potential levee failure

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