Woman Drowns During 911 Call — Flooded Car

A woman driving in Gwinnett County (Geo.) was swept off a residential street that became suddenly flooded from heavy rains, and emergency units could not locate and reach her before her car sank and she was drowned. Seydi Burciaga stayed relatively calm during the 16-minute call, which eventually ended when water filled the last possible space in her Nissan Quest van. The unnamed Gwinnett County dispatcher who answered the 911 call immediately recognized Burciaga’s peril and worked quickly to identify her precise location. But in the end, arriving police and fire units were unable to see the car off the roadway, and later rushing water, barbed wire fences and trees blocked any access to the vehicle. Read more about the incident and read a transcript of the 911 call here.

The National Academies of Emergency Dispatch has had a protocol card since 2001 for vehicles sinking or already underwater. Under their protocol, the calltaker is advised to quickly obtain the best possible location, and then transition to safety advice. In the case of a floating vehicle, the caller is told to, “get out now” by opening or breaking the window. For a submerged vehicle, the caller is told to allow the car to fill with water, take a deep breath and then open the door to escape.

The NAED protocol also also advises the calltaker that “conditions may change rapidly,” and that he/she should give the most appropriate advice from the protocols, sometimes out of order.

Burciaga’s car was on Desiree Dr., and was swept westward behind the houses. An elementary school occupies the space shown under construction in this satellite view. Trees, barbed wire fences and the rushing water prevented a quick rescue.

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