SUNRISE, Fla. – An 88-year-old woman died after a tragic accident Wednesday evening.
It happened at an apartment complex off North Pine Island Road on Northwest 37th Street in Sunrise.
According to police, the woman drove over a concrete parking block and into the canal.
Surveillance video from a nearby apartment shows the car floating in the water.
A neighbor is now taking care of the woman’s 95-year-old husband.
“She was strong-willed, single minded, stubborn as the dickens and she was a very good friend for 23 years,” said the neighbor, who asked not to be identified. “I actually was a little angry with her. She probably shouldn’t have been driving.”
As that man waded into the water to see if he could help the woman, his daughter dialed 911 as the elderly woman pleaded for help.
“I went there to grab the phone so that he could get into the water,” she said. “And all I remember is that lady just asking for help. She had the windows rolled down, so when the car just filled up with water in like 10 seconds and immediately just sank.”
Witnesses say the car was under for up to 10 minutes before a Sunrise dive team arrived and pulled the woman out, transporting her to West Side Regional Hospital.
Despite the attempts to save the woman by both good Samaritans and local officials, the woman did not survive.
Police officers at the scene told Local 10 News they believe it was just a tragic accident, but the investigation remains open.