5-Year-Old Zaria Miller Pulled into Storm Drain, Rescued by First Responders
On Sunday evening, 5-year-old Zaria Miller was playing outside with her brothers when a terrifying accident occurred.
According to deputies, just after 6 p.m. on Bahia Vista Street near Sarasota Christian School, Zaria and other children were near a culvert when the force of rushing water pulled her into the storm drain system. She was carried roughly 100 yards by the strong current before Sarasota County firefighters were able to rescue her.
Zaria was immediately transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Sarasota County Fire Department Assistant Chief Tim Dorsey described the rescue as “far from routine,” calling it “a low-frequency, high-risk event” with “a tremendous amount of risk and danger.”
Authorities said the rescue team quickly mapped a search area, located Zaria, and began resuscitative efforts before transporting her to the hospital.
The incident remains under investigation as officials work to understand the circumstances surrounding the accident.