Guardrails Could Prevent Florida Car Crashes into Canals and Drowning Deaths
South Florida is known for its extensive system of man-made canals. Literally thousands of miles of canals stretch from Orlando, Florida, southward to Miami, Florida. Canals come in different types and sizes, and they serve many purposes in Fla., including drainage and flood control, agricultural canals, waterway navigation and ocean access, boating and recreation, and residential canals -- which boost home values in neighborhoods by virtue of houses being built adjacent to canals.
One downside to having so many canals in South Florida is car accidents sometimes occur where vehicles go off the road and crash into canals, and the driver and occupants drown before they can escape the sinking vehicle.
As a Palm Beach County auto accident injury lawyer knows from following Florida motor vehicle accident fatality reports, a car that plunges into water can sink rapidly, making it challenging for the car accident victims -- even if they're unharmed in the initial crash -- to escape.
Florida Car Accident Deaths Due To Cars Crashing into Canals
A tragic accident of this nature recently occurred in Palm Beach County, Florida. Last February, Ms. Deiula Francois, a mother with her two daughters in the car, was driving on State Road 80 near Belle Glade when her auto swerved out of control, plunging into the canal. Though one of the daughters called emergency 911 from the submerged vehicle -- it was too late to save them. All 3 occupants of the motor vehicle died in this fatal car accident in Palm Beach County. Another fatal car crash into a Florida canal occurred last March in Boca Raton, Florida; a West Boca man was killed when his car rolled into a canal.
According to news reports, the Florida Department of Transportation has sped up its schedule to install guardrails along the stretch of SR 80 near Belle Glade since this tragic car accident of the mother and two daughters who perished in their submerged car occurred. News reports state that at least 12 people have died in Florida motor vehicle crashes on State Road 7 near Belle Glade in the last several years.
Many articles have been written about how to increase chances of surviving a car crash that ends up with the vehicle sinking under water. Some safety advocates recommend carrying a hammer or other heavy tool in the glove box that can be used to punch out the windows and escape. See additional resources below on how to survive a water crash, including demonstration videos from the Florida Highway Patrol (which show escape techniques from a car floating and a car sinking rapidly).
Related Florida Accident Injury Attorney article:
Florida Family Missing From Fort Lauderdale Since '99 Found Dead in Van Submerged in Canal Off I-75 April 7, 2010
Sources:
Dangerous road to get guardrails
News Channel 5 WPTV.com July 11, 2011
Guardrails to be installed along canal on Boca Rio road in Boca Raton
South Florida Sun Sentinel March 16, 2011
Related Web Resources:
Surviving a Submerging Car
Florida Highway Patrol (videos)
Surviving an Auto Emergency
MSNBC.com
Plant Management in Florida Waters: Canals
University of Florida
