For Immediate Release:
 March 07, 2008

Media Contact:
Juan Carlos Flores
jcarlos@miamidade.gov
 305-803-0007



Commissioner Carlos A. Gimenez Commends a Good Samaritan


(Miami-Dade County, FL) -- William Caloca, a resident from District 7, saved the life of a young girl in the early morning hours of October 5, 2007. A car traveling Westbound on SR 878 lost control and went off the road crashing into a pile of concrete. The vehicle’s engine compartment ignited and inside the car was a young lady trapped with serious injuries. The lady was unable to free herself.

Mr. Caloca was traveling Eastbound on SR 878, noticed a car fire, called 911 and pulled over on the scene. He heard someone crying out for help and immediately pulled the young lady out of the burning vehicle, thus saving her life and taking her to safety.

The young woman he saved was Cristina Richards, the daughter of a retired Miami-Dade fire officer.  Her brother and sister are also firefighters with the department. “This is a truly remarkable story.  I thank Mr. Caloca for his bravery. As a retired firefighter, I know we firefighters consider ourselves to be a family and I am privileged to honor someone who saved a family member,” said Commissioner Gimenez.

Good Samaritan

Left to Right: Commissioner Carlos Gimenez, William Caloca, Christina Richards, Commissioner Dorrin Rolle, and MDFR Fire Chief Herminio Lorenzo
 

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MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSIONER CARLOS A. GIMENEZ DISTRICT 7
Stephen P. Clark Center
111 NW 1st Street, Suite 220 Miami, Florida 33128
(305) 375-5680