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Woman Fights For Life After Driving Into Canal

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SOUTHWEST RANCHES (CBSMiami) – A white Lexus SUV with a woman inside somehow veered into a canal in Southwest Ranches on Tuesday.

It all happened along Griffin Road at Bonaventure Boulevard at about 5:40 p.m.

A friend of the woman whose car veered into the canal said the 53-year old driver was heading home a block away.

Four strangers passing by tried to pull out the woman and her little dog but the car sank into 10 to 15 feet of water, filling quickly.

Moments later a Davie Police Officer also dove in, but it was just too deep and dark.

"It's very low visibility. You can't see very far in front of your face. Our officer that went in the water tried to dive down to get to the vehicle and he said it was very disorienting. He couldn't really see anything," said Sgt. Ed Smith.

Davie's Fire Rescue Chief estimated when his divers went in, the driver had already been under 6 to10 minutes.

They gave her CPR and airlifted her to the hospital. Her Yorkie did not make it out alive.

The victim's friend Mary Ann Knee and others who also live nearby said that stretch of Griffin Road and the canal have been a constant danger over the years.

"This is not the nicest street and that yield is not a good spot where it merges into one lane. It's a dangerous thing that they did there," said Knee. "How many more people have to die or get hurt here before this town or this county get involved and actually put guard rails here."

Anger and frustration aside, as the driver now fights for her life, her longtime friend prays for the best.

"She'd do anything for anybody. She's just a kind, kind person," said Knee. "Just please come back to us."

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