For: The opinion Posted 23 Jan 2023, 17:51 pm EST
Two sisters managed to get out of a car that plunged into a lake in western Michigan and then, soaked, shivering and barefoot, they walked for help, authorities said.
According to authorities, the girls, ages 8 and 10, escaped out the back of the car, reached the shore and they spent the night alone for hours before finding someone nearby at a home in Park Township.
In the meantimehis 52-year-old father, who was driving the car, was found dead when divers located the vehicle Sunday in Lake Macatawa, the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office said.
The girls had stayed on someone’s porch and waited for daylight, Sheriff’s Lt. Eric Westveer said.
“They said they just huddled together overnight and kept warm until they could find a residence that had people in it,” Westveer said.
The sheriff’s office identified the father as Jon Dowler of Otsego.
The girls were taken to a hospital for observation. Westveer said it was not clear how the vehicle’s rear hatch was opened to allow them to escape.
“Divine intervention,” he added.“or it could be as simple as dad pressing the button.”
The crash remains under investigation, though Westveer said it appeared to be an accident.
“We believe that the father became disoriented, did not know the area, which ended up in the water just because of the way that road is built,” said the lieutenant.
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