SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL.COM
July 15, 2009Hollywood Hills football players learn crash victim near Clewiston dies - - Hills athletes pulled woman, toddler from overturned vehicle
By Christy Cabrera ChirinosIt was some of the toughest news Scott Barnwell has ever delivered.
Tuesday afternoon, the Hollywood Hills football coach gathered four of his players and informed them that despite their best efforts the woman they had pulled from a sinking car on Sunday night had died.
But Barnwell quickly reminded them that while Juanita Carrillo Bryan had passed away, what they had done was remarkably special.
The combined efforts of Alvin Arnold, Jared Maldonado, Clarence Murphy and Anthony Yerou saved the lives of her husband and grandchild.
"Those kids are true heroes," Barnwell said. "So many cars drove by and had the opportunity to stop, but didn't. We gave her a chance and her family was able to be with her."
Just after 8 p.m. Sunday, Barnwell and his players were returning to South Florida after participating in a 7-on-7 tournament in Tampa. The group was driving along U.S. 27 near Clewiston when Barnwell, who was behind the wheel, noticed a man waving for attention on the other side of the road.
In a ditch behind him was an overturned Nissan SUV.
The sight forced the group into action. While Barnwell looked for a safe place to make a U-turn and head to the accident scene, he began delivering instructions.
"I told them to stay by me and that we'd be OK," he said. "I had a strong feeling there was a baby in the car and I told them, 'I'll get the baby. You get the adults.'"
After pulling over, the players learned their coach's instincts were right.
Trapped inside the vehicle was 56-year old James Bryan of Flagler Beach, his wife, 53-year-old Juanita Carrillo Bryan, and their 2-year old granddaughter. Barnwell, the players and several other passers-by who stopped to help were able to help Bryan out of the vehicle and to cut through the mangled seat belt to free the granddaughter's car seat. As she was taken from the car, Bryan told the group his wife was still inside and under water.
Murphy, a senior lineman, worked to rip the vehicle's door off its hinges along with his teammates. The group pulled the unconscious woman from the car and up an embankment where Maldonado, 15, performed CPR.
"I learned CPR as a freshman and I never thought I would use it," he said. "You never expect that stuff to happen. I would never change my thoughts of turning around to help because we gave this lady another chance to live. She didn't have to drown in the bottom of a canal."
Maldonado's efforts proved crucial and after several minutes, Carrillo Bryan resumed breathing. She and her family were later airlifted to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers.
Later Sunday, Barnwell received a phone call from the family thanking him and the players for what they'd done.
Tuesday, however, the group learned Carrillo Bryan had passed away.
"Everything happened so fast," Murphy said. "Something just took over me and took over my friends. I feel like anyone could have stopped, but the fact that we did and we did something good opened my eyes. Now, my eyes are always open to the fact people may need help."
