Video shows rescue of woman from car dangling from Coral Gables garage
CORAL GABLES — A new video released by Coral Gables Fire Rescue shows the dramatic rescue of a woman in her 50s, whose car was dangling Monday morning from a Baptist Health parking garage in Coral Gables.
The video released to CBS News Miami shows an intensive team effort by firefighter paramedics as one of them is lowered from the roof of the building at 1500 San Remo Drive after the call for help was received at 9:15 a.m. near the Shops at Sunset Place.
The woman's white Porsche SUV was perched precariously from the 3rd floor of the garage and authorities said she was inside it for more than 20 minutes.
"It looked like the lady pressed the accelerator by mistake and went through the wall. She got very lucky that when the car went through the wall, it landed in a tree. We are able to rescue her in 20 to 30 minutes. We had a firefighter lowered by a rope to the vehicle and we rescued her from there. Amazing work by Coral Gables with assistance from the city of Miami," Xavier Jones, division chief, said.
University of Miami seniors Kate Lui and Regina Potenza, who are broadcast journalism majors, were nearby. Lui said she saw the woman being rescued and that firefighters used a ladder in the rescue.
"I can't even imagine being in that situation," Potenza said.
Valeria Marsal, who was working at nearby Pediatric Associates, said she was inside with patients when she heard "a big smack."
"When I went outside, I saw a car in a tree," she said. "If the tree had not been there, some of my patients who were outside could have been hit by the car and I started shaking when I saw that and we called 911. I went outside to see if they were okay, and they were pulled to one side and the child was crying and I was terrified."
"This is crazy. People have to pay attention when they are driving. It's very dangerous with all the cars parked there," said neighbor Carmen Garcia.
Authorities said as a precaution, the woman was taken to a nearby hospital, but they said she is going to be OK.
Police have not identified her.
