Florida wreck survivor, 83, hopes other driver 'gets what he deserves'

Tillie Tooter spent 3 days trapped in her car in a tree above a swamp

In this story: Woman trapped in car for 3 days Other driver denied hitting woman's car Man acted properly, says lawyer RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida -- The 83-year-old Florida woman who was trapped in her wrecked car for three days after another motorist allegedly rear-ended it said she hopes the man charged in the incident "gets what he deserves."

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Tillie Tooter said she was hit from behind on August 12 as she drove on I-595, heading to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport to pick up her granddaughter.

On Thursday, police charged Scott Andrew Campbell, 21, of Hollywood with filing a false police report and leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in injuries.

Tooter, during an interview with CNN, said: "I'm very angry. I'm very angry and hurt that anybody could do anything like that and leave, and I hope he gets what he deserves."  117K/11 sec. AIFF or WAV sound

Police said Campbell rear-ended Tooter's car during the middle of the night, sending it over a 3-foot-high concrete wall and into some mangrove trees 40 feet below. The crumpled car lay out of sight, resting on the clump of trees in a mosquito- and snake-infested swamp.

Scott Andrew Campbell is a suspect in the auto accident that left Tillie Tooter suspended above a swamp in her car for 3 days

For three days, no one knew Tooter lay 40 feet below the overpass, in part because Campbell allegedly told troopers he hadn't hit another car.

As she lay trapped in her car, Tooter said, she screamed, cursed and prayed for someone to rescue her. She said she survived by collecting rainwater in a steering wheel cover and wrote a farewell note to her family. She also sucked on two cough drops, a piece of hard candy and a button, and chewed her only stick of gum.

Investigators said Campbell was about a mile from the accident scene when troopers arrived shortly after the crash. They believe he was trying to drive away but that his engine died.

Eventually, a teen-ager picking up litter spotted Tooter's car, and the woman was hospitalized in serious condition with insect bites and dehydration.

Tooter's granddaughter, Lori Simms, said Tooter is recovering, but "emotionally she has a long way to go."

The Florida Highway Patrol and Broward County firefighters had received at least two 911 calls August 12 reporting a car going over the side of the bridge, but they found only Campbell's Camaro when they arrived.

Tillie Tooter is lifted from her car by rescue workers after spending 3 days trapped in her car in a tree above a swamp

Campbell, whose car had front-end damage, told troopers there were no other cars involved in the crash, investigators said. Firefighters used floodlights to look below the highway but found no signs of Tooter's car.

Campbell was questioned again after Tooter was found and said he did not know what he had hit, according to investigators.

The FHP confiscated his Camaro last week. Investigators said it had paint marks that were matched to Tooter's car.

He surrendered to police after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Campbell's lawyer, Lee Cohn, said Campbell pulled over as soon as he could and was only a short distance from the crash scene. He immediately reported the accident, stayed at the scene and told troopers he did not know whether he hit a guardrail, debris or another vehicle, his lawyer said.

"He did everything the law says he's supposed to do. He called the police, and he told them what he knew," Cohn said.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Woman released from hospital following 3 days trapped in car
August 19, 2000
83-year-old woman on the mend after car plunge into swamp
August 18, 2000

Florida Highway Patrol
Broward County Sheriff's Office

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