3 Missing College Softball Players Found Dead in Their Vehicle

FOX NEWS ^ | 11/03/09 | FOX

[Doogle]

Three college softball players, who vanished Sunday night while at a North Dakota lake where they often went star-gazing, were found dead in their vehicle, which was pulled from a pond.

Police Lt. Rod Banyai said Tuesday night that police are "still investigating" the cause of the deaths.

Kyrstin Gemar, 22, of Grossmont, Calif.; Afton Williamson, 20, of Lake Elsinore, Calif.; and Ashley Neufeld, 21, of Brandon, Manitoba in Canada, all play softball for Dickinson State University in Dickinson, N.D.

[Doogle]

sad....

[cripplecreek]

Agreed.

I’m guessing the car had electric windows and they were too panicked to break them.

[Doogle]

...there's so much missing from this story...the phone calls are puzzling

[1_Rain_Drop]

Strange the girls did not call 911 instead of calling their friends. They must have misjudged their situation.

The moon was 99% full that night (and gorgeous!!!) so it's not as if they were in total darkness.

Prayers for the families.

[doc1019]

Calling as they were sinking?

[BunnySlippers]

Car windows are hard to break in those circumstances. And the doors will not open. People should keep a tool in their car to break the windows.

[truthluva]

Prayers going out for the families of these young girls. So sad.

[tom h]

I’m guessing that their vehicle went off the road into a lake and became submerged. They called, frantic, and the cell signal penetrated the water initially as the car slowly sank. The girls didn’t know what to do and ultimately ran out of oxygen and asphyxiated.

[cripplecreek]

A short screwdriver would be a handy tool to have for something like that.

[rabidralph]

Just awful! Prayers for their families.

[cripplecreek]

They probably called the friend on speed dial.

[BunnySlippers]

I’ve never been submerged [thank God].

But I understand that kicking in the window does not help. Lowering it will not help, nor will opening the door.

This surprised the heck out of me when I heard it years ago.

[GregB]

Should be number one gift for Christmas..electric locks and windows it can be a life saver!!!

[MikeJ]

A ResQMe tool is inexpensive, available on Amazon and elsewhere. What a sad end to this story.

[Teflonic]

ResQMe - Key Chain Seat Belt Cutter and Window Breaker http://saveyourlife.us/ResQMe.html

[Sunshine Sister]

Oh dear God. I’m so sorry for the families.

[LuvFreeRepublic]

The Key Chain ..... is a great idea. Also what was said in a training class I went to is that if you can not break the window, wait until the car fills with water and then open the door. The pressure inside and outside will equalize and you will be able to open the door. Problem is that people panic, understandably.

[jcsjcm]

I have one of these in each of my vehicles. It is my number one fear! I hate going over bridges with water. I dream of dying this way!

So sad.....

[tet68]

Just one more reason to NOT have electric windows.

[chris_bdba]

Yep a little woodworking punch too. For that matter a good sized rock would work to break a window.

[Ramius]

Just one more reason to NOT have electric windows.

Electric windows will still work underwater.

[Pharmboy]

A telescoping Asp is a good thing to have in your car.

[angcat]

Very sad

I am going to order two of the keychains.

[tet68]

Fine but not a chance I would want to take.

[LuvFreeRepublic]

Forgot to add, don’t break front windshield. It is safety glass. Break side window.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Yes, but I prefer the extendable PR-24.

[Ramius]

Yep. I’ve got a few of them. One is dedicated to the front seat of my car.

[chris_bdba]

That is a great idea!

[Trailerpark Badass]

Those are considered weapons in many jurisdictions, so know your local laws before you carry one in your vehicle or concealed on your person.

[cajungirl]

Thank you,,you may have saved a life!! I just ordered 12 of them for my nearest and dearest.

This has bothered me for years,,electric windows and living in Louisiana. We were here about three months when my daughter was in a wreck in a rainstorm and ended in a deep water filled ditch. She got out of the car and ran right into a snake but was safe. Since then I hate to go out when it rains,,it floods so fast.

But this looks like a good tool. I want a hammer in the cars too so I am ordering hammers!!

Now if everyone gets guns, I will relax.

[Trailerpark Badass]

And to add, an automatic center punch is an inexpensive tool that will shatter car windows.

[Ramius]

Something just doesn’t feel right about this story. Of course it’s possible that it was all just a horrible accident... but I think it’s definitely odd that out of three girls— not even one of them managed to get out of the car. It’s not THAT hard to do.

[heartwood]

By the time the car fills enough for you to open the door, the cold water may have paralyzed you. Ironically, slow filling could be worse for you.

[poindexters brother]

Will shatter an automobile windshield

[Pharmboy]

Understood. Thank you...

[spectre]

The girls were tough. If anyone could have survived a situation, it would have been them.

OTOH, if they drove into that pond..there really was no way out. They drowned in 12 feet of water..So sad.

[GregB]

Thanks for the information.

[Old Forester]

(a spring loaded center punch) “Will shatter an automobile windshield”

No, it won’t even make much of a dent in a windshield - they’re laminated and harder than the dickens to get out with anything. Now side windows and rear windows - they’re lots of fun with a center punch. You can smack a side or rear window with a hammer and run the risk of having it bounce back and hit you in the face, but the center punch will take it out instantly. (that’s from 30+ years of extrication classes :) )

[fr_freak]

But I understand that kicking in the window does not help. Lowering it will not help, nor will opening the door.

I don't see why that would be. The main problem is that when a car goes under, the pressure against the door will prevent a person from being able to open it. So, if you can equalize the pressure, you should be fine. You equalize it by allowing water into the car, which you can do either by breaking the window or lowering it. After enough water has filled the car, you should be able to open the door, or, if the window is open, climb out through that.

[Palladin]

I don’t like to think it of such outstanding athletes, but maybe alcohol was involved.

[Skywalk]

Actually, if you allow the car to fill with water, you can simply open the door and swim up. Obviously, it’s no mean feat to wait to be fully enclosed in a watery tomb but it’s the only way if you don’t have one of those tools. Actually, because of the pressure that forces water in, even breaking the window is probably a bad thing because you will not be able to really get out until the pressure is equalized.

Basically, unless you get out while the car is still near the surface, you are better off waiting for it to sink to the floor of the body of water and then opening the door.

[BunnySlippers]

From what I understand you are correct.

But most people, when they don’t know to carry a tool to break the windows, also do not know to wait until the pressure equalizes. Most people panic as the water creeps up their faces.

[GatorGirl]

Very sad. I wonder what happened...

Prayers for the comfort of their families and for their eternal souls.

[BunnySlippers]

See number 42. Cheers. :)

[rabidralph]

My parents bought me a rescue hammer with a razor in the other end. I keep it in my truck.

Because it's the winter, I'd also recommend that people keep several of those chemical handwarmers and footwarmers in their glovebox in case they get get stranded somewhere.

[cripplecreek]

I have a couple of the mylar space blankets in the glove box all the time.

[fr_freak]

But most people, when they don’t know to carry a tool to break the windows, also do not know to wait until the pressure equalizes. Most people panic as the water creeps up their faces.

Ah yes, the panic factor. You're probably right about that. But, if people know the tactics before something like this happens, hopefully they'll have the presence of mind to follow them. Trying to figure it out after you're in the water will be too late, as you say.

[VermiciousKnid]

This type of ASP is illegal in NY, at least in the NYC Metro area including Long Island.

In this, as in so many other cases...the law is an ass.

Regards,

[BunnySlippers]

I know very little about this as I do not drive along water ... until you mean the Pacific Ocean.

But I think my underlying point was to educate people about this. I know you agree. :)

[LuvFreeRepublic]

True about the cold water, but if you can’t break the glass, wait till the car fills with water and then, they say, you will be able to open the door. Trying to open the door just as you are being submerged won’t work. Too much pressure.