Rome Man Saves Pastor’s Wife Trapped in Car From Winter Storm Stella For More Than 24 Hours

UPDATE: An investigation by Oneida County Emergency Management Director Kevin Revere found no truth to this story.

A pastor's wife is lucky to be alive after being trapped in her car for more than 24 hours in Winter Storm Stella thanks to the heroic efforts of one Rome man.

Jason Jaegers was plowing streets in Rome when his friend kept asking him to help in Utica. "I wasn't going to leave Rome but something kept telling me to go. The east side of Utica was really bad. I've never seen nothing like this in my life."

While plowing, Jaegers found what looked like a snowbank, but turned out to be a car buried, with only the top of the antenna showing. "I was going to scrape off the snow so others could see it but then I saw a woman inside. It was the craziest thing I've ever seen."

The 85 year-old woman had been trapped in her car since 5pm Tuesday, March 14th when Winter Storm Stella was it's worst. Jaegers didn't find her until over 24 hours later. "We watched a dozen cars drive by this woman's car. They probably thought it was just a snowbank. I don't know why I got out but I'm glad I did."

The car had died after the woman put on her hazard lights. "I don't want to describe what she looked like because it was something I didn't want to see," says Jaeger who called the paramedics.

Hazel was taken to St Elizabeth's Medical Center and Jaeger says "she has a cold but is going to fully recover. I'm so glad God put me in Utica that day. It really touched my heart. I don't have grandparents so this was something special for me."

Jaeger isn't looking for accolades or attention, he just wants to remind everyone to think of others. "When we get horrible weather like this, try and help the person next to you. I hate to think what would happen if I hadn't found her."

BONUS VIDEO