Posted on 03/05/2014 9:35:15 AM PST by servo1969
[video]
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Three children -- ages 5, 7 and 10 -- were rescued from a minivan that was driven into the Atlantic Ocean off Daytona Beach.
Onlookers pulled the children from the vehicle, which was being buffeted by waves as it drifted deeper into the surf Tuesday. A woman driving the van escaped unharmed.
Beach Safety Capt. Tammy Marris said the woman was already driving on the beach, where cars are allowed, when the vehicle entered the water.
The South Carolina family of four was taken to Halifax Hospital. Once the children are released, they will be placed in the care of relatives while an investigation is conducted.
A tourist from Montreal, Simon Besner, captured the terrifying ordeal on video, and Taylor Quintin, visiting Central Florida from Vermont, saw the whole thing from the balcony of her hotel room.
“My friend pointed out that there was a car getting really close to the beach and actually started driving on the water,” Quintin told Local 6. “I saw a kid in the back waiving his arms around screaming, 'Help us! Help us!' And the car kept going deeper.”
Quintin said three bystanders quickly jumped into action.
“That's when I saw a guy from the beach run over next to the car and take out two small children and walk them back up,” Quintin said.
At one point in the video, the mother in the driver's seat hops out through a window and walks toward the shore. Bystanders and a lifeguard continued to search the back of the van while waves came over the car.
“Another guy ran out and brought a little toddler out of the car,” said Quintin.
The man carried the child back to shore, saving the child's life.
Volusia County Beach Patrol and the Florida Department of Children and Families are investigating the circumstances, but people who saw the incident, including Donna Pratt, can't believe it was accidental.
“When she first was drifting into the ocean, we thought maybe an accident,” Pratt told Local 6. “But when the bystanders went to help, she clearly went deeper into the ocean. She drove right toward it, so it's hard to believe it was an accident.”
A DCF official told Local 6 the agency is looking into any past cases of child neglect or abuse.
No other details were immediately released.
Attempted Murder?
Insurance Fraud?
Wait...
“the mother in the driver’s seat hops out through a window and walks toward the shore.”
Then-
“Another guy ran out and brought a little toddler out of the car,”
She just walked off and left a toddler in car as it bounced around in the ocean?
She didn’t even try to help it?
Guess the gubment check was late.
On Fox News right now. She sounds like a Nut-Case.
On Foxnews this morning they said the mother was driving.
Suicide?
Drunk?
Imbecile?
/////////////////
GPS
LATE TERM ABORTIONS!!! She left her TODDLER in the car as she got out!!! OMG! These poor children.
Probably a cell phone. I never cease to be amazed by the number of cell-phone impaired drivers one-handing their way through traffic around here by very expensive cars.
My mother was T-Boned by one such critter and will be in a wheelchair for the rest of her mortal life as a result.
cell phone or applying makeup. or both. or gps said turn left now.
SC ping!
She was looking for a Taco Del Mar to patronize!
When possible, make a U-turn. When possible, make a U-turn.
She was pregnant, but probably not very,because she got out through the window. Reports said the 10 year old screamed, “She’s trying to kill us!!!” Those poor children will never forget this horrible event.
So sorry to hear that about your mom. We spend a lot of time on the road, in Texas, and just about every driver we pass is looking at or texting on their d@%# phone.
You’re right. How sad. Scarred for life. Thank God she didn’t succeed.
Maybe just one pissed off pushed over the edge parent, have you ever told your kids if you don’t knock it off I’ll drive this car over a cliff? Me neither, total nutcase psycho mom needs to be locked up!
It sounds like the Mom was trying to kill everybody, including herself. I hope those kids find loving foster homes or get with a sane family member. This is probably not the time to make any remarks about women drivers, so I won’t.
You don’t accidentally drive into the surf at Daytona Beach. Its flat and the beach is wide. Having driven that beach many times its impossible.
she’s nutz
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