A car went into the South Esplanade canal at Westward Drive last Thursday around 3:15 p.m. and the senior driver survived without injuries.

    Ursula Caro, 71, of Miami Springs, was the only person in the 2005 Corolla when it careened around the corner from Westward Drive, hit a tree alongside the canal bank and slid sideways into the canal, partially sinking. Fortunately, two Good Samaritans rushed to help.

    “I was sitting outside the library reading when I heard the squealing of tires and the sound of the car hitting the tree,” said Darrell Thompson. “I saw the car in the canal, so I came running and opened the passenger side door. I grabbed her legs and tried to pull her out, but the canal bank was too steep. So I got into the car and pushed her from behind while another guy helped pull her out.” (The other man is unidentified because he left the scene shortly after helping Caro out of the car.)

    Caro said she was trying to parallel park her car in front of Downrite Pool Supply, 385 Westward Dr., after her sister had gotten out and gone inside the business. Caro said the car suddenly accelerated and clipped the left rear of a parked 2010 Ford pickup truck belonging to business owner Onan Castillo. The Corolla then sped around the corner before nailing a tree almost head on and sliding sideways into the canal on South Esplanade.

    “I heard the wreck but I didn’t see it,” said Castillo. “I ran out and while the other two men were helping the driver out, I held onto the car door to keep it from sinking any deeper.”

    Someone brought a chair for Caro and she seemed to be taking the accident in stride. “Accidents happen but I didn’t think it would be me,” she said. “I was trying to hit the brakes but my foot got caught between the brake and gas pedal. The car accelerated like crazy. When my car hit the tree, I thought that would be the end of it (the accident), but my car went down the bank into the water.”

    Caro hugged Thompson and said, “He’s my hero.”