Surveillance video captured the moment a pick-up truck barreled through the fence of a Miami marina, knocking down a tree before hitting another boat and then crashing into the water.
Mauricio Florez, who owns boat rental and captain services business Luxury Waves Miami, said he was about to set sail around noon on Monday with a group for a birthday celebration when he heard the crash and then ran over.
“I heard like a big noise, like an explosion,” he said.
He captured cellphone video showing the truck sinking in the water near Northwest 18th Terrace and saw two women inside screaming for help.
“They were trapped because of the airbags,” Florez said.
At some point, a good Samaritan jumped in the water, somehow got the driver’s side window down, and then started pulling the driver out.
Florez threw a life vest at the women and the good Samaritan and tried offering them his cellphone, but said they were in shock and could barely speak.
From what he saw, he said the women weren’t physically hurt.
“It was like an insane situation for me,” Florez said.
The truck was a City of Miami waste management truck and city officials confirmed two workers were inside when it plunged into the water.
“Thanks to the quick and courageous actions of private citizens who immediately responded and entered the water to assist, both individuals were safely rescued,” the city said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the employees. We are grateful they were safely pulled from the water without suffering any injury.”
The cause of the crash is being investigated.
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