Castro Valley teen survives after car crashed into creek

CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. (KGO) -- A Castro Valley teenager is lucky to be alive after the car she and her friend were in hydroplaned and ran off the highway on their way home from a trip to Humboldt County Wednesday night.

After the car went off the highway, it plunged into a swollen outlet creek off Highway 101 north of Willits.

Both Natalie Griffin and her friend Jenna Santos were conscious after the accident, but the vehicle quickly filled with water and only Griffin made it out alive.

Griffin survived by clinging to a tree 100 yards from shore for 12 straight hours overnight. She was finally able to swim back to shore where she flagged down a car.