Miami Firefighters Rescue Woman from Storm Drain

Dec. 21, 2006
Firefighters said the only reason she didn't fall any farther is that her body wedged up against the moped, which may have saved her life.

Associated Press - (APTN)
Dec. 21, 2006. 03:07 AM EST

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It was a bizarre night for firefighters and for the family of a grandmother who decided to take her daughter's moped to the store Tuesday night.

According to the firefighters who lifted her to safety, Rachael Rodriguez, 55, apparently took a sharp turn and drove right into an open storm drain, falling approximately 6 feet.

Neighbors said they heard Rodriguez screaming for help, her voice echoing from a tunnel-like structure at a construction site at 2800 block of Southwest 32nd Court.

Firefighters said the only reason Rodriguez didn't fall any farther is that her body wedged up against the moped. They credit this with saving her life.

"Because the moped also went in, it prevented her from going very deep into the hole. Had she gone any further, she probably would have drowned," said Ignatius Carrol from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

"Unfortunately, she waits until late at night when we're all nearly asleep to get on it. She's not supposed to be driving it," said Aida Rivera, the woman's daughter.

Rodriguez was taken to a nearby hospital. She was released on Wednesday.

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