Diaper Saves Toddler’s Life in Accident that Killed Father
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Deputies helped save a Florida woman and her child after a domestic argument led the woman to crash into a lake. (Photo credit: Jim Donnelly)
A buoyant diaper may have saved the life of a Florida toddler who was plunged into a lake when an argument between her parents caused their car to swerve into the water. Sariyah Michel, 3, and her mother were rescued from the lake, but her father drowned.
Parents Catherine Copeland, 33, and Sandro Michel, 27, were engaged in a violent argument in the car when they lost control early Tuesday morning.
“Her husband was hitting her as she was driving causing her to lose control of the car,” said a Broward Sheriff’s Office news release.
The altercation began at a RaceTrac gas station, where concerned bystanders called 911.
“[Michel] was telling [Copeland] that he didn’t want to go to jail,” Copeland’s cousin Fredericka Taylor told ABC News’ Miami/Ft. Lauderdale affiliate WPLG. “I guess he tried to run, because she was driving, but he went and placed his foot on the gas, attempting to get away.”
The car crashed into an embankment and plunged into the water.
When deputies arrived on-scene, they heard “cries for help coming from the darkness” and “found the woman struggling to stay afloat in the lake,” said the release.
Copeland was “screaming that her 3-year-old daughter was in the car.”
“All of a sudden, this little thing popped up like a cork,” Deputy Cazi Navarro told the Sun Sentinel. “I saw it was a Pamper, and attached to the Pamper was this little girl.”
Navarro jumped into the lake and rescued the girl.
“At that point the baby was kind of lifeless, her arms were dangling, no responsiveness, no consciousness,” Deputy Michael Francis told the Sun Sentinel.
“As soon as she got to the shore, they took her from [Navarro's] arms and someone started doing CPR,” said Keyla Concepcion, the public information officer for the Broward Sheriff’s Fire Rescue. “People were there on standby to whisk her away to the hospital.”
Sariyah was taken to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and listed in critical but stable condition. Copeland was treated in the hospital and released.
Michel was found dead in the submerged vehicle and his remains were taken to a medical examiner for an autopsy. He was under court order not to have any contact with Copeland and was on probation for a domestic battery charge, according to the Sun Sentinel.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office said homicide detectives are still investigating the case.
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3 year olds should NOT be in diapers. In this case though, i suppose it was a blessing.
Posted by: danielle | October 26, 2011, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
Danielle,
Not all kids are potty trained by three. My daughter is developmentally delayed. She trained later. Her wise older (in his 60′s) pediatrician told me kids train when they are ready not a specific age. He also said not to force the issue. They all get trained eventually.
Posted by: levelheadedmom | October 26, 2011, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
Danielle: Potty training is NOT the issue here. Let’s stay on topic, shall we? Glad the innocent toddler was saved by the quick-thinking Deputy Navarro and the awesome life-saving Pamper diaper!
Posted by: Seattle Mom | October 26, 2011, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm
Thank God the child was not potty trained, her pamper saved her life! Levelheaded mom, your pediatrician is awesome! Our in-home daycare provider told us the same thing about potty training, they learn on their own when ready. My daughter was potty trained in 5 days, no lie, right before her 3rd b-day. Granted accidents still occur but no stressful times for the little princess. Hate to say it about the father, but…good riddance.
Posted by: ozitojade | October 26, 2011, 4:07 pm 4:07 pm
ALL of you are off topic! Both these parents have issues, one is now out of the way, some
body needs to get the crazy mother out of the picture too. I call her crazy because she let him in the car, she let him step on the pedal and SHE, not HIM, SHE chose to get in the vehicle and try to drive away when she could have just stayed at the gas station. I hope the kid makes it out okay though!
Posted by: TOPIC | October 26, 2011, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
1 word: KARMA
Posted by: TexasMom | October 26, 2011, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm
KARMA.
Posted by: Julie | October 26, 2011, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
Natural selection at it’s most efficent.. baby floats, mama gets checked out and the abuser meets his fate.
Posted by: SoLongSucker | October 26, 2011, 4:35 pm 4:35 pm
Solongsucker, I agree whole heartedly!! Very well said.
Posted by: Teena | October 26, 2011, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm
I have one question great the little girl survived but, shouldn’t she be buckled into a car seat! And how did she get out of it if she was buckled? Seems to if they both were attempting to drive how where they buckled?
Posted by: Wendy | October 26, 2011, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm
How on earth did that child get out of her carseat? …I assume there wasn’t one. This is the first time I’ll say GOOD. Lucky, lucky little girl that her parents didn’t follow the law.
Posted by: Saith | October 26, 2011, 6:22 pm 6:22 pm
TOPIC: “ALL of you are off topic! Both these parents have issues, one is now out of the way, some
body needs to get the crazy mother out of the picture too. I call her crazy because she let him in the car, she let him step on the pedal and SHE, not HIM, SHE chose to get in the vehicle and try to drive away when she could have just stayed at the gas station. I hope the kid makes it out okay though!”
I find this entire post offensive. Have you ever been in an abusive relationship? Or known someone that has been? While the mother may have her own issues that she is dealing with, how do you know that she CHOSE to get in the car with him? How do you know she CHOSE to let him get in the car with her? She certainly didn’t LET him “push on the gas”. Having been in a similar situation with an out of control person who reached over and grabbed the steering wheel while I was driving I know in some situations with irrational people there is nothing you can do to stop it.
Posted by: Seriously? | October 26, 2011, 6:39 pm 6:39 pm
How did she float to the top of the water if she was properly fastened into a child seat? Either she wasn’t in one or someone unlatched it so she could float to the top.
Posted by: Jen | October 28, 2011, 1:18 am 1:18 am
To Ozitojade, how dare you judge a situation that you have no idea about, let’s just thank GOD that this little girl and her mom is safe and well. Obviously you didn’t read what you typed before you post it, how about shut your mouth if you don’t have anything encouraging to say.
Posted by: Nick of time | October 30, 2011, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
Either they didnt buckle the kid in or he stayed long enough to get her out of the seat.
Posted by: deb | November 7, 2011, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm