GUTWRENCHING audio has revealed the horrific moments after a 5-year-old girl was swept into a storm drain in a deadly accident.
Zaria Miller’s grandma desperately sobbed as she told the 911 operator the water “sucked her under,” but she was too late.
Zaria Miller, 5, died after she was pulled into a storm drain[/caption]
Zaria was playing with her brothers at a culvert when she was pulled under the road[/caption]
Zaria Miller and her mom, Raquel[/caption]
The young girl died in the hospital days after she was pulled into a storm drain in Sarasota, Florida.
On Sunday, Zaria was playing with her brothers near a culvert at around 6:30 pm while her grandma watched.
Suddenly, a nearby water main broke and increased the suction as heavy rain came down, creating a current that sucked the girl into the storm drainage system, police said.
The girl’s grandma made a frantic 911 call begging for help as she helplessly watched the water continue down the drain.
“She got sucked into the culvert,” the grandma sobbed in audio obtained by The U.S. Sun.
“There’s a water line flowing right out here.”
She continued, “We were letting the kids play and she got sucked underneath into the culvert.”
The grandma was heard sobbing so hard that she couldn’t breathe as the dispatcher asked for more information.
At one point, the grandma yelled, “God, why did we let her swim in there?”
She told the 911 operator that her granddaughter was trapped in the tunnel under the road.
As the grandma called, a person passed by and also called the police when she saw the family panicking, according to police records.
Children can be heard screaming and hysterically sobbing in the background of the second 911 call, which ended after the dispatcher determined it was the same incident the grandma was calling about.
When first responders arrived at the scene, deputies and firefighters lifted storm grates and searched the area.
The girl was found about 100 yards west on the street, police said.
Statement from parents
The parents of 5-year-old Zaria Miller shared the following statement after her death on Thursday:
Zaria Rosa Miller passed peacefully at 10:14 this morning.
We would like to express our indescribable gratitude to the many family, friends, and strangers who prayed for, and sent well wishes her way.
The biggest thank you to the Sarasota County (FL) Sheriff’s Office and Sarasota County Emergency Services who quickly responded and searched desperately to recover her body!
Also, our strongest hug goes out to Dr. Nathan P. Dean and his tremendous team of doctors and nurses at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St Pete, who cared for Zaria while she was in the PICU.
We will update regarding funeral details when those arrangements have been made.
If you are a family friend, and have any pictures of Zaria, feel free to leave them in the comments.
Source: Facebook
Firefighters pulled her from the water and performed CPR.
She was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition, where she remained until her death on Thursday.
Her parents announced the tragic news in a statement on Facebook in which they thanked first responders for recovering their daughter’s body.
A GoFundMe page has now been started for Zaria’s family to cover medical expenses, monthly bills, and funeral costs.
“It is with a broken heart I have to share that Zaria has received the ultimate healing, and is in the arms of Jesus,” the fundraiser’s organizer wrote.
“The family is grateful for all the love and support shown over the past few days.”
Zaria and her dad, Kyle[/caption]
Zaria Miller, who passed away on Thursday[/caption]
