LAUDERDALE LAKES, Fla. – A woman and her 2-year-old granddaughter were rescued from a Lauderdale Lakes canal last month after a car crash, and weeks later, they reunited with the Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy who saved them from their sinking vehicle.
According to BSO, the crash occurred shortly before 6 p.m. on March 20 after the victims left a Walmart, located at 3001 N. State Road 7.
Authorities said the duo could feel the car sinking and see the water rising before they spotted Deputy Andrew Alencar coming to save them.
According to BSO, Alencar had just finished working a detail at the Walmart when he was alerted about the crash.
“I rushed over there and spotted the vehicle and upon approaching the vehicle, I saw a lady and a baby on the back seat of the vehicle, and the vehicle was sinking. I knew I didn’t have much time, so I needed to act,” Alencar said.
According to BSO, the grandmother, Audrey Villieres moved to the backseat with her granddaughter, Ameika Brown, as the car was sinking.
“I could see on their faces that they were very shocked. The vehicle was going down fast and at that time, I tried just to focus on what I had to do,” Alencar said.
The deputy then jumped into the canal and swam to the victims.
“When I reached the vehicle, I realized I couldn’t reach the bottom,” Alencar said, adding that he used his window plunger to break the window and free Ameika. “When I held the baby, it was hard to swim because I couldn’t touch the bottom. So, I held the baby above my head, I went down in the water and took a couple of steps and was able to swim back to shore.”
Once Ameika was safe on dry land, deputies said Alencar swam back to the car to save Villieres.
“I went back, was able to pry the door open, and retrieve the lady from inside and swim her back to shore,” Alencar said.
After Alencar was back on shore with both victims, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue personnel assisted them.
According to BSO, while they were shaken up, they were both in good condition.
Investigators later determined the accident may have occurred due to a possible vehicle malfunction, a BSO news release stated.
According to BSO, after the incident, Alencar was transported to a local hospital to be treated for ingesting canal water and for minor cuts.
He reunited with the victims two weeks later on April 3, along with the toddler’s mother, Sheree Linton, and Dabria Moulton, the child’s sister.
3:30 p.m. report:
“I am so happy to see him now,” Villieres said. “I didn’t know he was in the hospital, and I said, ‘Oh my God, save him, don’t let anything bad happen to him because he saved me from the water.’ So, I thank God I get to see him; happy to see that he is OK.”
Linton was equally grateful for the deputy who saved her mother and child.
“I had a panic attack, I couldn’t breathe, so I stopped the car for a little bit,” she said about the moment she found out about the crash. “Then I catch myself, and I drove here to the Walmart.”
“I was so happy that he was working at the Walmart that day, at that time, because if he wasn’t working there, I don’t know what would have happened,” she added.
Moulton was especially grateful that Alencar stepped in to help even though he was off duty at the time of the crash.
“He did this out of the kindness in his heart and that shows how brave and compassionate he is,” she said.
“Before being a deputy, I am a father, so when I do anything for the community, I always picture doing something for my family,” Alencar said.