Emergency 911 dispatch tapes released Tuesday afternoon of a call from a teenaged girl trapped in a sinking car at the Waikiki Yacht Club tell a story of fear.
The incident happened Saturday evening. The girl survived, but the driver, Honolulu attorney Michael McCarthy, didn't.
McCarthy's car hit two parked cars before going over a curb and into the water, according to police.
As the car was filling up with water, McCarthy's 15-year-old step-granddaughter called 911.
911 Call Excerpt:
"I'm in the Waikiki Yacht Club and I'm in a car and it's sinking," she tells a 911 operator."What is your problem?" the operator asks."I'm in a car and I can't open the door and we're sinking," she answers."I don't want to drown," she yells.
While the car was submerged, a passer-by saw bubbles coming out of the car jumped in and rescued the girl.
Because of murky water, the Good Samaritan wasn't able to find McCarthy, firefighters said. Rescue crews arrived and pulled McCarthy out, but it was too late.
Memorial services for McCarthy are scheduled for Sunday at Borthwick Mortuary. Visitation is at 11 a.m. with services at 12:30 p.m. Services are open to family and friends.
A family spokeswoman said the teen who survived the crash is now out of the hospital and doing well.
Previous Stories:
- January 16, 2006: Honolulu Attorney Dies After Car Plunges Into Harbor
- January 15, 2006: Car Rolls Into Harbor; 1 Dead, Bystander Saves Girl
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