A long-time resident of Old Lyme set off early on Sunday morning from her home on Nottingham for Christ The King Church, but decided as she was traveling along Mile Creek Rd. to turn left down Cross Ln. to join Rte. 156 rather than take her more usual route along Mile Creek itself.
Although Phyllis Shepherd-Tambini saw the water in front of her under the Cross Ln. railroad bridge, there were no barriers or cones present at the edge of the water. She continued driving under the bridge, but the water was much deeper than she anticipated and almost immediately her PT cruiser stalled.
Shepherd-Tambini watched helplessly as the water began to rise within her car, but she remained composed and called 911 on her cell phone. When the water was roughly up to her waist, she was rescued by members of the Old Lyme Fire and Police Departments, who used a canoe to transport Shepherd-Tambini to safety.
Shepherd-Tambini told LymeLine, “I’m just glad I’ve lived through this story … I never thought I was going to die,” adding, “I knew where the air bubble would be in the car.” She expressed her deep appreciation to everyone involved in her rescue.