SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (AP) — Authorities in a Northern California resort town say a snowplow operator inadvertently bumped into a car buried in snow and found a woman unharmed inside.

Chris Fiore, spokesman for the city of South Lake Tahoe, highlighted the Feb. 17 incident in a Tuesday news release in order to urge safety precautions in winter weather. He said the city has had problems with illegally parked vehicles, which slows down snow removal.

Fiore said the operator bumped into the car so hard the vehicle's trunk popped open. While shoveling around the vehicle to prepare for a tow, the woman put her hand on the window.

The 48-year-old woman refused medical attention and left.

Fiore said the situation "could have turned out very differently" if the snowplow had not bumped into the car.