On a Sunday evening, 5-year-old Zaria Miller, her brothers, and some friends were cheerfully playing outdoors near Bahia Vista Street, close to Sarasota Christian School near a culvert—a tunnel-like structure that channels rainwater underground.
The game soon turned into a tragedy when the raging flow, intensified by rainfall, dragged Zaria into the storm drainage system.
Emergency services arrived at the scene in an attempt to rescue the little girl in what they dubbed “far from a routine call.” Sadly, the water carried her approximately 100 yards through the underground pipes before she was finally located and taken out.
“It was a low-frequency but high-risk event. There’s a tremendous amount of danger involved in these types of rescues due to the unpredictability of water flow and the confined space,” Assistant Fire Chief Tim Dorsey told ABC7 News.
An eye witness who wanted to remain anonymous described the tragic incident. “All of a sudden, I heard shouting and people screaming,” she said. “Then I heard someone say that one of the little girls from the neighborhood had been pulled into the water. It happened so fast. It’s something you never expect.”
Zaria was rushed to the Sarasota Memorial Hospital with severe injuries. Despite the trauma she suffered, medics did all in their power to rescue her.
The entire community railed around the family to provide them with support. They even started a GoFundMe page to help them with the medical expenses.
Sadly, five days later, Zaria passed away.
“It is with a broken heart that I have to share that Zaria has received the ultimate healing, and is now in the arms of Jesus,” her devastated family posted on the social media, thanking everyone for their support.
Zaria’s tragic passing is yet another reminder that life is unpredictable and everything can change in the blink of an eyes. May she rest in peace.
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