A driver was rescued but one of his dogs died after he drove their car into a lake in Topeekeegee Yugnee Park in Hollywood Friday morning, police said.
Hollywood Police said the driver was attempting to commit suicide when he drove the car into the lake at the park around 11 a.m.
Officials said three students from Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School jumped into the lake to save the driver.
Ryan Seilkop, Jose Cabrera and Samuel Rivera said they didn't think twice when the car went into the water.
"Oh, a car just went into the water, we all heard the splash, so Ryan, Sam and I ran over there," Cabrera said.
The students, who were on a senior class trip, said it wasn't easy to get the driver out.
"We got there, I was banging on the door cause it wasn't opening because of the water pressure, Sam got there and we started to open the door and he hit the car twice," Seilkop said.
Local
"We grabbed the handle and put our feet against the car and pushed the door and finally got it to open and I grabbed the guy to get him out," Rivera said.
They noticed two dogs in the car but with it sinking fast they couldn't reach in to help them. Instead they focused on getting the dazed driver to shore.
"Just go to the mangroves, I started pushing him to the mangroves and then he had his hands caught, we all got out of the water cause he was ok," Cabrera said.
Davie Fire Rescue responded and divers found the second dog in the car, still alive.
"The dog had managed to find an air pocket and was still alive so we recovered the dog to the surface and out," Lt. Colin Bain said.
Officials said the driver would be hospitalized and could face animal cruelty charges.
