Couple Killed When Car Plunges Into Hallandale Waterway
HALLANDALE BEACH (CBS4) – The bodies of an elderly Hialeah couple were pulled from a Hallandale Beach waterway after their car plunged into the water.
"I was on my balcony and I heard the crash," said Carlos Perez.
According to Hallandale Beach Fire Rescue's Yvonee Feijoo, the driver of a vehicle with two people inside lost control in the parking area of a condo building at 437 Golden Isles Drive, hit a silver car parked by the water's edge and then both cars plunged into the water.
"I realized there were people in the car," Perez said. "I got down straight into the channel and there were a couple guys with me trying to reach. But it was so deep. I couldn't save anybody."
Roughly 30 minutes later Hollywood and Fire Rescue dive team members pulled the body of an 85-year-old man from the water just before noon; he was pronounced soon after. Within minutes divers pulled the body of an 85-year-old woman from the water; she too was pronounced dead.
Ada Tuah watched the rescue efforts in disbelief. Not only was she friends with the couple, she said it could have very well been her car in the canal.
"Everyday I park there and this morning another car was there so I was not upset but I said 'Jesus ya know you took my space,'" resident Ada Tuah said.
Some of the building's residents spent the afternoon discussing what can be done to prevent this from happening in the future; some suggested metal guard rails.
"I mean actual steel rather than have it open to try to protect people. I don't know what else to do," said Mel Schofield.
Building management said the couple had lived in the building for a long time. Their neighbors said they were cordial but much older so they rarely got out.
"He was ill. He just had some surgery not to long ago," said Schofield.
Police have not released the names of the couple who died.
