Jun 24, 2009 5:44 pm US/Eastern
Police Cruiser & Car Careen Into Hialeah Canal
Click Here SLIDESHOW: Police Cruiser & Car Crash Into Canal
HIALEAH (CBS4) ―
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A Hialeah police officer and another driver were involved in a crash which ended with both vehicles in the water of a Hialeah canal.
CBS
It happened in an instant as 19-year-old Jenny Dominguez was on her way to school. A police officer rushing to the scene of a burglary somehow struck Dominguez's car on the passenger side. Both of them ended up in a canal.
It was a striking scene from Chopper 4. Both of their vehicles could be seen clearly, side by side, under water in the canal along East 4th Avenue at 37th St.
Police say the officer, Joseph Thomas, was in the vehicle with his police dog named "Shaq." He was able to safely get out of the vehicle along with "Shaq." Thomas, who's been with the department six years and who police say has a "good record," was taken to Palmetto General Hospital, where he was treated for some minor injuries and released.
Police say he was ordered by the Police Chief not to speak. Even his girlfriend, who was at the hospital, declined to speak.
Dominguez was transported to Palm Springs Hospital, where her mother, Odaylys Arcia, told us her daughter was being treated for a head injury. "She was driving to school and when she went to turn, the cop slammed into her, taking her into the canal," said Arcia. "She thought she was going to die. She was stuck and could not get out. Then a man helped her out. He broke the window and helped her out."
Sources identified the principal good Samaritan as Aramas Garcia of Hialeah. He jumped into the canal and was the one who rescued Dominguez. He told police he did not want to speak to reporters about his heroic effort. Witness Gloria Restrepo said, "He immediately threw himself in the water to help her."
Police are not certain how this happened. Witness Arelia Bartonel said, "The girl that was in front of me turned to avoid hitting the officer. I was scared and screaming. I asked for help."
Police Detective Carl Zogby said the police officer's lights and sirens were on. A third car was also struck and towed from the scene. It's not clear if it was struck by either one of the other cars or hit a guardrail.
Arcia said she was worried about her daughter. "She's in a state of shock. She was struck in the back of the head. Her head is hurting a lot. I feel bad. She has a lot of medical equipment on her. She's the only thing I have. Of course I'm worried."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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