A Florida Highway Patrol trooper nearly drowned trying to save a woman who purposely drove her car into a lake near the Glades Road exit from Florida’s Turnpike
Published December, 4th 2008.
By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR
A Florida Highway Patrol trooper nearly drowned Monday trying to save a female motorist who, apparently on purpose, drove her car into a lake in the area of the Glades Road exit ramp from Florida’s Turnpike to Boca Raton, an FHP report said.
The report said Trooper Steven Julien, an 11-year FHP veteran, responded within minutes and observed the vehicle as it began to sink, with the woman inside.
He and a passerby swam to the middle of the lake to try and save her, but in the process, he swallowed a large quantity of water and had to be taken to West Boca Medical Center, where he was admitted, said FHP spokesman Sgt. Jorge Delahoz.
According to the report, the 56-year-old woman was heading southbound on the turnpike just before 7 p.m. when, the report said, she “intentionally drove from the roadway onto the grass shoulder and accelerated her vehicle as she directed [it] toward a small lake in the area of the exit ramp.”
Sgt. Delahoz said the speed caused her vehicle to launch about 60 feet and hit the center of the lake.
Julien, the report said, was unable to gain entry or break the windows. A Good Samaritan, Jason Alweiss, 28, of Hamlin Drive in Boca Raton, entered the water with a crowbar to help extricate the woman from the submerged car.
Alweiss and Trooper Julien were able to break a window and got the driver out of the car and safely to land.
All were treated at the scene by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. The woman went to Delray Medical Center and Alweiss to West Boca Medical, FHP said.
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