PEMBROKE PINES, FLA. (WSVN) - A woman died and a man is in critical condition after their SUV plunged into a Pembroke Pines canal, Wednesday afternoon.
According to Pembroke Pines Police, an SUV crashed into a canal, along 172nd Avenue and Sheridan Street, with two occupants inside.
The impact caused the vehicle to turn over.
“All of the sudden, the car tipped over,” witness Chandra Sekhar said. “And ‘boom,’ it went in.”
Police said three good Samaritans tried to rescue the victims, 63-year-old Sandy Rose and 61-year-old Joan Rose, but couldn’t open the SUV, neither could the first police officers on scene.
Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue arrived shortly after. One witness went on Facebook to broadcast a Facebook Live live stream of the first responders and divers as they searched for the occupants trapped in the SUV.
As she recorded, she audibly became emotional.
“I’m not sure what’s going on…” you can hear the woman say. “Oh, God. Please hurry up…”
The divers removed Sandy and Joan from the vehicle. Both were then transported to Memorial Hospital Miramar.
Pembroke Pines police later said that Joan died. Sandy is in critical condition, according to police.
“I could see the face of the lady she was very composed, even in that scenario,” Sekhar said, “and it’s very sad when I hear that she is no more. I just cannot get it out of my mind.”
Police believe Sandy suffered a medical condition and lost control off the 2004 Toyota Highlander.
“It is believed that this incident began as a result of a medical emergency that was suffered by the driver,” Pembroke Pines Police Captain Al Xiques said.
The canal sits right beside a library and Pembroke Pines Charter School. Many of the students witnessed the aftermath.
“I saw one of my friends, and she said that she saw the bodies being pulled out, and I don’t know, it’s just a scary situation,” Chinaelo Chukwuelua, a student, said.
At around 4 p.m. the SUV was pulled out of the canal and towed away.
“We want to thank all of the witnesses and brave citizens that attempted to save these two individuals’ lives by risking their own,” Xiques said.
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