RALLS COUNTY, MO. -- A Hannibal man is lucky to be alive.

On Thursday, 17-year-old Ethan Whitley was driving on US-61 about 1 mile north of New London when he fell asleep behind the wheel.

The Missouri Highway Patrol reports that his vehicle left the road and crashed into a column on the north side of the Salt River Bridge before rolling into the water.

Whitley suffered moderate injuries in the accident.

The New London Police and the Ralls County Fire and Recuse assisted in the rescue.