Man Nearly Dies After Crashing Into Canal On 27th Avenue
CBS Local in Miami reports that a woman whose car plunged into a canal near the Hard Rock Stadium nearly died after a crash on Sunday.
Gladysse Paul, 69, was heading southbound on Northwest 27th Avenue when she collided with two other vehicles through a chain-link fence before crashing her car into the water of the canal.
According to Ms. Paul’s son, Rodly Lormestoire, his mother was pulled from her vehicle, which had been submerged for approximately 5 minutes.
A captain with the Florida Highway Patrol told Lormenstoire that rescue teams, which included FHP Corporal Rudy Regis, Lt. Luis Darcia, Miami-Dade Police Officer J. Childress, a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue diver, a parking attendant, and two other civilians assisted in the effort to rescue Paul. Initially the team had difficulty freeing his mother from her vehicle because the pressure on the door was too great and cracking the window more than it had been after the crash would have worsened the situation.
“I do not know what happened to her when she was driving,” Lormestoire said. “I know that she did not feel well. I don’t know what happened with the other vehicles, she means the world to me, and now she’s fighting for her life.”
Lormestoire also expressed hope that no one else was hurt in the crash.
So far, investigators are uncertain about what caused the crash. Lormenstoire said that where she was during the game day was unusual and that his mother was not feeling well at the time.
The 69-year-old retired nurse from Miramar remains hospitalized at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center and is currently listed in grave condition.