So imagine my surprise today when I stepped outside to see four news helicopters circling overhead and crowds of reporters and onlookers gathering to look into the pond? It's a nice pond and all, and the ducks are swell, but what they were looking at was, well, a Nissan.
Someone had a rough afternoon.
At about 4:14 p.m. Thursday afternoon a woman reportedly lost control of her vehicle and ran into the pond at the Steeplechase Apartments in the 7400 block of Alma in Plano, according to reports from the Plano Fire and Police departments.
The woman frantically dialed 911 as her car slowly sank beneath the frigid water, according to Plano dispatchers. While she was about to be submerged, rescuers dove into the icy pond and got her and her dog out of the car.
Being what kind of gawker, blogger and all-around swell person would I be if I didn't go see for myself?
I can't wait to see how they get it out.
Your devotion to blogging duty is EXCELLENT. lol
ReplyDeleteIs that frost/snow on the ground? It looks really cold there in Dallas! It's in the sixties here in PA today, as it has been all week, but I think that weather system is headed our way tomorrow. I like Julie and Schuyler's color-coordinated hats!
ReplyDeleteReal live woman took the words right out of my mouth...snow in TX and I was bbq'ing in shorts in PA last night. How odd....
ReplyDeleteYeah, you smug northerners will get yours soon enough.
ReplyDeleteHave you read David Sedaris's books? This story got me laughing, thinking about his sister, who is always way more concerned about the dog than the human, if a dog is indeed involved in the accident.
ReplyDelete....random thoughts by Michelle O'Neil. No need to thank me.
Photo journalism at its best! I'm going to guess that the freakish weather played a part.
ReplyDeleteUs smug northerners are getting ours today, seeing as its raining, turning to freezing rain, turning to snow whereI am.
The police are now saying that it had nothing to do with the weather. Apparently she hit the gas instead of the brake. She must have really punched it, though, because she hopped a curb, went over about twenty feet of ground and hit a big rock and a wall, and STILL made it out like fifteen feet from the edge of the pond.
ReplyDeleteI've been outside taking photos of the extraction of the car. I'll post them later. It's a freakshow out there. I am now convinced that most of my neighbors have heads in their freezers.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I think my "car accident in my neighborhood story" from this week wins. (http://www.daytondailynews.com/search/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/11/28/ddn112806hubercrashweb.html)
ReplyDeleteIf you can't read it due to registration, a drunk and high driver flipped his truck on our street Monday night. The truck ended up in our neighbor's yard. The passenger was ejected through the window and landed in our driveway. (The article says the police found her 25 feet from the accident. Not true, my brother-in-law found her.)
No dogs were in danger of harm though my dog barked a lot and a police search dog was brought in.
Shae (slickery)
You definitely win, Shae. That's pretty horrible. Did everyone make it out alive?
ReplyDeleteIncidentaly, a few people have written to point out that I basically just gave away where we live. I appreciate your concern. I was aware of that when I posted, and I've mentioned Plano a few times in other places.
The simple truth is that yeah, I was pretty upset when someone called and threatened Schuyler, but the reality is that our information is out there. Julie and I talked about it, and there's plenty to be afraid of in the world as it is. In the end, you have to pick your terrors based on reasonable risk.
Besides, Schuyler is never alone here, ever. She can't play on her own or even eat without supervision. It's a shitty part of her afliction, but it does keep her safer, ironicaly.
Also- the mark on the top of the trunk that I could see looks like a Nissan...
ReplyDeleteYou're right. Extraction photos coming shortly...
So, you'll be OK if we (husband and I both read your blog) take a road trip up to Plano from our fine Town of Talty, Texas and hang out with the ducks waiting on a glimpse of you guys ?
ReplyDeleteOr, maybe a passing vehicle?
Heh.
LikeALurker
Only if you promise to use your emergency brake when you hang with the ducks.
ReplyDeleteDonna said; I think you should do nothing but write captions for every picture in the world. I laughed my ass off.
ReplyDeleteSchuyler is precious in her hat etc as per usual.
With all that attention, you'd expect at LEAST Paris Hilton to emerge from the car.
ReplyDeleteThe woman went to the hospital and the next morning was in critical but stable condition. We don't know her name and there was no real media follow up so we haven't been able to find out much more about her.
ReplyDeleteWe did find out more about the Idiot Driver though when the police returned the next day for more investigation. He has 10 prior convictions for DUI and was driving on a suspended license. He had fled the scene but came back pretending to be a spectator (long after everyone had dispersed) and was arrested. He has a broken ankle but they don't think it's from the crash. They think he did it running through our backyard. We have a drop off of about 10 feet at about an 80 degree angle and no lighting back there.
But I will say the continued media prescence in your driveway makes your scene far more annoying.
Shae