PEMBROKE PINES, FLA. (WSVN) - A South Florida driver was left shaken but uninjured after, police said, she and two other motorists were involved in an accident in Pembroke Pines, causing her car to plunge into a canal, Friday evening.
According to Pembroke Pines Police, a driver making a left-hand turn at the intersection of Taft Street and University Drive violated the right of way of the two other drivers, who were heading westbound on Taft, at around 5:50 p.m.
Officials said the traffic violation caused one of the victims, who was driving a Hyundai, to collide with a rail near the canal. The other victim, who was driving a white sedan, then hit the same rail, sending her into the canal.
Andrew Franklin, who works at a nearby car wash, told 7News he and other good Samaritans ran over to help the driver after he saw the splash when her car went into the water. “Straight through the wall, tire tracks on the ground, straight into the lake,” he said.
Witnesses said the driver, described as a woman in her 30s, was able to crawl out of the vehicle. “She is fighting to get out of the car as it’s filling out with water,” said Franklin. “As she’s able to get out through the back door, we stepped in long enough to reach her and grab her hand. She took maybe two steps, and we pulled her the rest of the way from there.”
Franklin said the motorist then spoke to him. “She literally told me, ‘I thought I was going to die in that canal,'” he said.
Police responded to the scenes moments later and tweeted out a picture showing the car partially submerged.
3 vehicle crash, WB Taft & University. 1 vehicle submerged. All occupants out & alive. Lanes being redirected on scene. #Traffic pic.twitter.com/fSx0r9LbjX
— Pembroke Pines PD (@PPinesPD) February 3, 2017
“Her windshield was smashed in, and if she would have come through the other way, she would have gone straight through and she would have been in the canal,” said Franklin. “It could have been so many different perspectives how it could have gone wrong, so I’m grateful to God that everybody is alive.”
Officials said two of the drivers were transported to an area hospital as a precaution, but they said no one sustained any major injuries.
There were no other passengers inside all three cars involved.
Police shut down Taft Street near the scene of the accident and redirected traffic.
Meanwhile, neighbors posted pictures to Snapchat.
7News cameras captured crews pulling a water-soaked purse from the white sedan.
The daughter of the woman driving the Hyundai told 7News the vehicle was hit on three sides. She added that her mother was taken to Memorial Hospital Pembroke.
Police continue to investigate the accident. No charges have been filed.
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