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5-Year-Old In Pond Accident Improving; Family Hopeful For Other 2

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- We are hearing some good news today about the three children who survived after the car they were in plunged into a pond in St. Louis Park.

In fact, one is making what a family friend is calling "a miraculous recovery." Now, the family is hopeful the other two will do the same.

Two of the five children died shortly after the accident. The three surviving children were rushed to area hospitals. Amani Coleman-Guerrido, 5, who was trapped under water for at least 20 minutes, is making a remarkable recovery.

"I call it a miracle. It's just amazing," attorney and family friend Rick Petry said.

Petry saw Amani at Hennepin County Medical Center Tuesday. He was playing with toys and talking.

"There was Amani sitting up in a bed and I looked at him and said, 'Hi, Amani,' and he looked at me and said, 'Hi,'" Petry said.

Petry says the youngest child, 1-year-old Aliyana Rennie, is at Amplatz Children's Hospital and was just removed from heavy sedation Tuesday.

"They expect today she would be awake and alert," Petry said.

Petry says he has less information about 5-year-old Zarihana Rennie, who has been hospitalized at Children's Hospital, but has been told she is also improving.

The driver and mother of three of the children, Marian Guerrido, is struggling, Petry said.

"On the one hand, she is happy that these two children are improving and that Zarihana is improving as well, but on the other hand, she can't lose track of the fact that she has lost a child and another child has died," Petry said.

Lastly, Petry wants to stress how grateful the family is for all the support and prayers.

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