Driver Plunges Car Into Lauderhill Canal During Tropical Storm Eta

A South Florida driver was saved after driving their vehicle into a canal during Tropical Storm Eta, according to NBC Miami. The incident happened off Northwest 21st Street in Lauderhill Sunday evening (November 8), where flooding waters and nighttime obscured the scene.

Officials said the car hit the water and drifted 50 yards before sinking. Lauderhill Fire Rescue crews were able to save the unidentified driver, who was transported to Broward Health. The person was in critical condition, but fire officials said they had a pulse.

"Divers from Plantation Fire Rescue searched the canal, fearing that another victim might be in the water, but nothing was found," NBC Miami reported. As of now, they assume the driver was the only one in the car. A photo from LFR shows waters going up to a worker's waist as he speaks to a diver.

“You can’t tell the difference between the parking lot, where the grass and the canal start," Jeff Levy said, who is with Lauderhill Fire Rescue. "It was dark out here. Most definitely drove into the canal without knowing the difference.”

Street flooding was reported throughout South Florida after Eta soaked the Sunshine State. Eta was expected to bring between 6 and 12 inches of rain to the area, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Photo: Lauderhill Fire PIO Twitter