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American Morning

Interview With Mica Broils

Aired September 02, 2003 - 09:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We turn now to a tragic story that happened over the weekend. Robert Rogers was driving his minivan along the Kansas Turnpike in a torrential downpour on Saturday. Suddenly he, his wife and four small children were swept into a raving river. As the car went under Rogers tried to save his family, but his plan went wrong.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT ROGERS, CHILDREN KILLED IN FLOOD: I kicked out the window. It was instantly sucked into the raging water. My wife Melissa and daughter Mackena (ph) were unbuckled. It's not clear if they, too, were sucked out or if they tried to escape. My three youngest children were still buckled into their car seats when the van was inundated with water.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Mica Broils lived across the street from the Rogers' family and the two families were very close. She joins us this morning from Liberty, Missouri.

Ms. Broils, first and foremost, our condolences go out to you. I know your families were very close. We say close but frankly you were best friends with this family. So we appreciate you talking to us.

This story is so shocking and so heartbreaking. It's hard to even talk about it. Just tell me -- I know you've spoken to Mr. Rogers. What did he tell you, and how's he holding up?

MICA BROILS, FRIEND OF KANSAS FLOOD VICTIMS: He called us the morning after it happened to explain what exactly had happened to him and that the children had died, and that Melissa and Mackena at that point were still missing.

He seems to be holding up extremely well. He a man of very strong faith, and I guess God is just supporting him at this time, because there is no way he could be getting through, otherwise.

O'BRIEN: Such a beautiful family. And we're looking at a picture of these little, little children. Your children played with these small children. Tell me a little bit about this family.

BROILS: They're just an amazing family. They have amazing -- they're amazing parents. They have amazing children. The kids are about the same age as our kids are. Our youngest three are the same ages as their youngest three.

They played together every single day. They're involved in so many different activities throughout the community. They're just going to be missed so much. And it's going to be so hard to look across the street and not see kids playing in the driveway anymore.

O'BRIEN: We heard Robert describe what happened. He kicked out a window, he was trying to rescue the family. The window out in kicked out let all the water rush in, the car basically went over.

Did he tell you at all the circumstances around what the family was doing? Do you know that?

BROILS: I do. Kerry (ph) talked to them yesterday, talked to Robert. He explained in the time they were sitting and the water was rising, they were praying and singing hymns to God, just trying to keep the children calm.

And as the water came up, that they decided to make the plan for what they were going to do, and they thought their best chance was for them to try to take Mackena who is the oldest and Melissa and Robert and so Robert kicked the window out and he doesn't know what happened after that.

But -- in the moments prior to that, I understand that they were, you know, trying to enjoy each other as a family, singing praises to God, praying together, and that's just the type of family they were.

O'BRIEN: Did he know that this potentially could have been -- as this family sitting in a van as the waters were rising around them -- did they think, this is it? When you say spending time together as a family, I mean, their last moments together?

BROILS: He hasn't necessarily, I don't know (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that he knew this was going to be the end, but I think he must have realized that grave situation they were in. I mean, he to realize how dangerous it was and that he may potentially never see them again. Unfortunately that seems to be what has happened. So...

O'BRIEN: Terrible, terrible news. Mica, thank you for joining us. Again, our condolences.

BROILS: You're welcome.

O'BRIEN: And I hope you continue to hold up well as well. Thanks.

BROILS: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired September 2, 2003 - 09:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We turn now to a tragic story that happened over the weekend. Robert Rogers was driving his minivan along the Kansas Turnpike in a torrential downpour on Saturday. Suddenly he, his wife and four small children were swept into a raving river. As the car went under Rogers tried to save his family, but his plan went wrong.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT ROGERS, CHILDREN KILLED IN FLOOD: I kicked out the window. It was instantly sucked into the raging water. My wife Melissa and daughter Mackena (ph) were unbuckled. It's not clear if they, too, were sucked out or if they tried to escape. My three youngest children were still buckled into their car seats when the van was inundated with water.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: Mica Broils lived across the street from the Rogers' family and the two families were very close. She joins us this morning from Liberty, Missouri.

Ms. Broils, first and foremost, our condolences go out to you. I know your families were very close. We say close but frankly you were best friends with this family. So we appreciate you talking to us.

This story is so shocking and so heartbreaking. It's hard to even talk about it. Just tell me -- I know you've spoken to Mr. Rogers. What did he tell you, and how's he holding up?

MICA BROILS, FRIEND OF KANSAS FLOOD VICTIMS: He called us the morning after it happened to explain what exactly had happened to him and that the children had died, and that Melissa and Mackena at that point were still missing.

He seems to be holding up extremely well. He a man of very strong faith, and I guess God is just supporting him at this time, because there is no way he could be getting through, otherwise.

O'BRIEN: Such a beautiful family. And we're looking at a picture of these little, little children. Your children played with these small children. Tell me a little bit about this family.

BROILS: They're just an amazing family. They have amazing -- they're amazing parents. They have amazing children. The kids are about the same age as our kids are. Our youngest three are the same ages as their youngest three.

They played together every single day. They're involved in so many different activities throughout the community. They're just going to be missed so much. And it's going to be so hard to look across the street and not see kids playing in the driveway anymore.

O'BRIEN: We heard Robert describe what happened. He kicked out a window, he was trying to rescue the family. The window out in kicked out let all the water rush in, the car basically went over.

Did he tell you at all the circumstances around what the family was doing? Do you know that?

BROILS: I do. Kerry (ph) talked to them yesterday, talked to Robert. He explained in the time they were sitting and the water was rising, they were praying and singing hymns to God, just trying to keep the children calm.

And as the water came up, that they decided to make the plan for what they were going to do, and they thought their best chance was for them to try to take Mackena who is the oldest and Melissa and Robert and so Robert kicked the window out and he doesn't know what happened after that.

But -- in the moments prior to that, I understand that they were, you know, trying to enjoy each other as a family, singing praises to God, praying together, and that's just the type of family they were.

O'BRIEN: Did he know that this potentially could have been -- as this family sitting in a van as the waters were rising around them -- did they think, this is it? When you say spending time together as a family, I mean, their last moments together?

BROILS: He hasn't necessarily, I don't know (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that he knew this was going to be the end, but I think he must have realized that grave situation they were in. I mean, he to realize how dangerous it was and that he may potentially never see them again. Unfortunately that seems to be what has happened. So...

O'BRIEN: Terrible, terrible news. Mica, thank you for joining us. Again, our condolences.

BROILS: You're welcome.

O'BRIEN: And I hope you continue to hold up well as well. Thanks.

BROILS: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com