NIAGARA FALLS ? Good Samaritans helped rescue a woman from the frigid Niagara River after her car plunged into the water about 500 metres from the brink of the Horseshoe Falls.

The car appeared to be travelling northbound on the Niagara River Parkway, just north of the Toronto generating station.

Niagara Parks Police believe the woman intentionally drove her 1995 green Ford Escort off the parkway, according to a statement released last night.

A Welland couple helped the woman to shore after she got out of the car.

"We were just taking a walk," said Galina Sazonov. "I saw the car come in that direction? and just go directly into the Niagara River."

Sazonov waved down a motorist and used a cell phone to call 911.

Her husband Andrey ran to the river's edge to see if he could help. The woman got out of the sinking car and began to swim to shore.

When he saw the woman in the water, Anrdrey Sazonov reached out to help her to shore, he said. She was near the trunk of the car as it started to sink.

"She was swimming very slowly," he said.

"She couldn't answer questions."

"She was in shock. She told us she was alone. I hope so," Andrey Sazonov said.

Tire tracks marked the grassy boulevard between the roadway and the river.

The car was fully submerged when emergency personnel arrived, though it was reported as floating when the first call was received.

Firetrucks, ambulances and police cars lined the parkway between the Toronto generating station and the Canadian Niagara Power plant for a couple of hours yesterday afternoon.

Niagara Falls fire department platoon chief Bob Mitchell said rescuers learned from the woman that she was the car's only occupant.

"We have to go on that. She was saying there was no one else in the car," Mitchell said.

Paramedics took the woman by ambulance to Greater Niagara General Hospital. She was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and admitted under the Mental Health Act, police said.

Divers from the Niagara Regional Police dive team went into the water about 3 p.m.

The car was recovered about 5 p.m.

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