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Early Sunday Storm Brings Wreck, Rescue

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GEORGE H. NEWMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 22, 2007

PLANT CITY - A black night, a slick road and high winds turned an evening of socializing with friends into a frightening brush with disaster that left two young women trapped in a local retention pond.

"I had never heard of hydroplaning," said 22-year-old Wendy Ocegueda. "But I know what it means now. When I told my friends about what happened, they explained it to me."

She also learned of the guardian angels that prowl the local highways and byways in the wee hours.

The Hillsborough Community College student was driving east on Interstate 4 as a line of rainstorms passed through Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Hillsborough counties early Sunday. It was almost 4 a.m. and raining hard.

At the Plant City weather station, winds toppled the heavy copper rain gauge. It was not a good night to be on the road.

As Ocegueda and her passenger, Elisabeth Rodriguez, passed Thonotosassa Road, she changed lanes about two miles before her planned exit at Park Road.

The 2007 Toyota began to slide and spin.

"I remember Liz saying, 'What's going on?' I had no control of the car, and as we spun I closed my eyes. There was no sound. It was scary."

According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, the car crossed two lanes, including the exit to Alexander Street. It slid sideways through low-cut grass on the south side of the road, through a wire fence and into a retention pond bordering the roadway.

The car went through the lightweight fence without tearing it down. On Tuesday, as Ocegueda recounted the ordeal from her Plant City home, yellow police tape lined the fence where it was hit. Tire marks left by the car cut an erratic trail down a sharp embankment into the pond.

The Toyota rolled over onto the driver's side as it came to rest in two or three feet of water.

"The car stopped and I remember feeling cold water pouring into the car," Ocegueda said. "Liz was on her cell phone calling 911."

The time was 3:51 a.m.

The 911 call went through to the Plant City Police dispatcher's office and was transferred to the Florida Highway Patrol and Hillsborough County emergency responders.

Plant City Fire Rescue operations Chief Gene Shuler said both city rescue units were tied up transporting accident victims from another wreck at Reynolds and Wheeler streets.

Rodriguez, strapped in her seat, tried to open the passenger door, which was above her. It wouldn't budge, said Ocegueda, who marveled at her friend's composure.

"Liz was very aware of what was going on. She told the dispatcher where we were and that we were OK but trapped in the car."

The water kept coming.

Rodriquez, 22, unlocked her seat belt and fell on top of Ocegueda, who managed to open the electric sunroof.

"Then I started yelling for help," Ocegueda said. "There was no way of telling how much trouble we were in. I didn't want to be in that car anymore." It was 4:04 a.m. She was wet and cold.

"I heard someone climbing on the car and the passenger side door swung wide open and there was an officer looking down at us," she said. "He asked if we were all right. I know I was crying and scared. But I was so happy they were there."

Sheriff David Gee said that type of action often happens out of the public eye.

"I am so proud of these guys," Gee said of his department. "Most of what they do to help the public goes unnoticed by all but a few."

Released from the overturned car, Ocegueda and Rodriguez hugged each other along the side of the road.

"I told her I was sorry," Ocegueda said. "She told me not to worry. It was an accident and that it couldn't be helped. I was almost hysterical."

Rodriguez was taken to Lakeland Regional for a leg injury. She was treated and released hours later.

Ocegueda was not injured.

"I want to thank the guys who came out and saved us," she said. "I'm so glad they got there when they did. To me, they weren't just doing their job. I felt they really wanted to be there to help us."

The ordeal isn't quite over, however.

"My mother said she will never let me drive again," Ocegueda said. "I know she will. But maybe not in the rain."

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com.

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