Strangers help save couple caught in river of mud

Flash floods in the Southwest killed two people this week and have led to dozens of water rescues.

The water washed away parts of Interstate 15. That road will be closed for another three or four days for repairs.

But amid the destruction is a story of survival: one couple who escaped the flooding after they were swept away, CBS News' Danielle Nottingham reports.

A cell phone video captured the moment when Margie and Lorne Miller's minivan was swept off of I-15.

"We were just free-falling," Lorne Miller said.

"It was like a waterfall," Margie Miller said.

The couple opened their doors to try and escape; they were clinging to the van and each other. Then, she slipped out of his hands.

"Deep down I thought I may never see her again," Lorne said. "It's like in a movie. You just realize you're in big trouble, and it's surreal. You just fight to stay alive."

"I was praying all the time, just Lord help me, give me a miracle, Lord, Jesus, help me, help me," Margie said.

Margie struggled to stay afloat in the muddy current. Lorne was still stranded on top of the van until a nearby construction crew came to his rescue.

"I had to jump across this 10 or 12 foot rushing river - this thing is really wild now - and they got me a rope, and they pulled me up all the way to the bank," Lorne said.

Both walked away uninjured.

"We knew we'd lost our car and probably our stuff," Margie said, "but what counted was us, we're alive, you know. So we're alive, and we can start again."