Travelers pulled from stalled airport shuttle

JERSEY VILLAGE, TX (KTRK) -- Connie Sykora Gerlich and her husband Ed Gerlich are newlyweds of sorts. While they may have grown children, they're young at heart and wanted to take a nice trip to Maui.

They were headed to the Hawaiian island around 4:30 a.m. Monday when their airport shuttle bus went into a Jersey Village neighborhood near the Beltway 8 and Phillipine.

It didn't make it back out.

"The lady from Super Shuttle jumped in her van and she didn't realize how high the water was and we stalled," said Connie Sykora Gerlich.

Connie says neighbors were able to get her out of the van, but her husband, who has a disability, was still stuck inside.

"Water kept rising. Next thing we know, we had eight inches of water in the van," said Ed Gerlich.

After five hours, rescue crews took a boat in and brought him to safety.

"Thank God for these gentlemen. They came to rescue us," said Connie.

The Gerlichs missed their flight and their beach vacation.

"I didn't buy the proper insurance ," said Connie, "So I've lost everything and we can't go."

But they do have each other.

"It's okay. God is good and I'm glad he's safe," said Connie.

"It means a lot. Wives are your best friends," said Ed.