Girl Passes Away Days After Being Pulled Into Storm Drain, Says Family

Key Information:

• Incident: A young girl was swept into a storm drain following a water main break in Sarasota, FL.
• Date: The incident occurred on Sunday evening.
• Victim: The girl has been identified as Zaria Miller.
• Outcome: Sadly, Zaria passed away a few days after the incident.
• GoFundMe: Nearly $97,000 has been raised for the family to assist with medical, funeral, and monthly expenses.
• Location: The incident took place near a culvert on Bahia Vista Street.
• Emergency Response: Zaria was located about 100 yards away and resuscitated before being taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital and later moved to All Children’s Hospital.
• Community Support: Residents and neighbors have expressed deep sympathy and prayers for the family.

SARASOTA, FL — Tragically, a young girl swept into a storm drain after a water main break has died days after the incident, as confirmed by a family friend through an update on GoFundMe. “It is with a broken heart I have to share that Zaria [Miller] has received the ultimate healing and is in the arms of Jesus,” the update stated, expressing the family’s gratitude for the overwhelming love and support they have received.

As of Friday morning, nearly $97,000 had been raised through the GoFundMe campaign to help cover the family’s medical expenses, funeral costs, and monthly bills for the upcoming month. Any additional funds will be donated to pediatric charities, as noted in the update.

The tragic incident began when Zaria was playing near a culvert on Bahia Vista Street. A water main break occurred, pulling her into the drainage system around 6:15 p.m., according to a news release from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.

Rescue teams found Zaria approximately 100 yards west on Bahia Vista Street where she had been carried through the drainage system. She was located in a wooded retention area across from Sarasota Christian School, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times. Following her recovery efforts, Zaria was transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital and subsequently moved to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, where she remained in critical condition for several days.

Residents expressed deep sympathy for the family during this difficult time. One local remarked, “I can’t fathom what they are going through right now. We are really praying, just really devastated for the family, but really praying for a miracle.” Neighbor Tom McGee, whose doorbell camera captured the emergency response, told FOX Tampa, “It was very scary. We didn’t know whose child it was. I just wish them the best and hope she makes a full recovery.”

The tragedy also prompted the temporary closure of eastbound and westbound traffic between Honore Avenue and Arcadia Avenue.

The force of the water from the break caused significant damage to the road, including a large hole at the site of the incident, reports indicate.