Metairie, LA : Kenner mom and her daughter died after SUV plunged into a canal Tuesday afternoon, April 14, 2015

A 6-year-old girl was found dead inside an SUV that landed upside down in a Metairie canal at Clearview Parkway and Veterans Memorial Boulevard on Tuesday afternoon, JPSO said.

Her mother, who was driving the vehicle, was non-responsive and was taken to a hospital after crews performed CPR on her around 1:50 p.m., according to East Bank Consolidated Fire Department Superintendent Joe Greco. The mother, 32-year-old Elizabeth Braddock, of Kenner, was in critical condition at the LSU Interim Hospital, JPSO said.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office Spokesman Glen T. Boyd confirmed the death of the child, who was not being identified.

Another JPSO spokesman, Col. John Fortunato, said Braddock was driving the Toyota 4 Runner traveling westbound on Veterans Memorial Boulevard when she lost control of the vehicle and plunged into the canal about 1:37 p.m.

The incident occurred in front of Clearview Mall, 4436 Veterans Blvd. Several witnesses jumped into the canal to try to rescue the passengers but were not able to do so.

Crews removed the green SUV from the canal around 2:30 p.m. As the car emerged from the water, objects inside began floating away, including a woman's purse that firefighters fished out with a hook. A child's booster seat was seen on the canal's bank.

Officials restricted traffic on busy Veterans Memorial Boulevard to one lane only in each direction as the fire department continued to work the scene.

Water levels at the canal were high as rain continued to fall in the area, and a swift current moved through as firefighters worked.

This is the second fatal accident in a Metairie Canal in recent days. Firefighter David Yeomans died last week when his vehicle crashed into the canal along West Esplanade Avenue near Hessmer Avenue. Yeomans car was found Friday, April 10, but officials said he had been missing since the previous Monday and his body had been in the water for days.

Source :
6-year-old girl killed after car flips into a canal; mother dies at hospital