Driver Ignores Road Closed Signs Leading To A Warrick County Water Rescue

After an emergency water rescue this morning, one Southern Indiana fire department is reminding motorists that it is "never ok to drive through a flooded roadway," after crews rescued a motorist from a vehicle that was almost completely submerged.

Nearly Seven Inches of Rain in Just Four Days

The Tristate area, and entire midwest were hit hard by heavy rainfall late last week, and it continued over the weekend. According to WEHT Chief Meteorologist Wayne Hart, Evansville received 6.67 inches of rainfall between Wednesday and Sunday. While signigicantly less than some other neighboring areas, it resulted in a lot of flooding.

The Ohio River Levels Were Already High in Evansville and Newburgh

The excessive rainfall came while the Ohio River levels were already high, resulting in dozens of roadways in and around Evansville and Newburgh to be closed due to flood waters. Unfortunately, not all drivers have heeded the warning.

Get our free mobile app

Ignoring Posted Signs Resulted in a Water Rescue in Warrick County Indiana

Crews from the Ohio Township Fire Department out of Warrick County released details on Facebook of a water rescue that took place earlier this morning. According to their statement, a driver bypassed the signs alerting to high water and road closure at Telephone Road and Libbert Road.

Two People Were Found on the Roof of the Submerged Vehicle

It's here that the fire department says they found a vehicle nearly fully submerged "about 75 yards out" with both the driver of the vehicle and their passenger on the roof of the vehicle.

Crews Used an Inflatable Rescue Boat to Retrieve the Stranded Motorists

They say it took the emergency response crews seven minutes from the time of arrival to inflate their INMAR (an inflatable rescue boat), reach the stranded motorists, and return them to safety. Once to safety, both the driver and passenger were transported by Ascension St. Vincent Warrick EMS to an area hospital.

Another Motorist Drove Around the Signs While Crews Were On Scene

While on scene for the rescue, the fire department says that another motorist drove around the posted signs to ask if it was ok to continue on the flooded roadway. In their post to Facebook, the Ohio Township Fire Department stresses that it is never ok to drive through high water or flooded roadways.

The fire department was assisted on the scene by both Warrick County Sheriff's Office and Warrick County Sheriff's Office Dispatch, as well as  Ascension St. Vincent Warrick EMS.

It Takes Very Little Water to Sweep a Car or Truck Off the Road

According to the National Weather Service, it takes far less water than you might think to sweep a car - or even a truck - off the roadway.

It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars and just 2 feet of rushing water can carry away SUVs and trucks. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters.

Not only does it take very little water to sweep a vehicle of the roadway, you never know what condition the road is in underneath the water. There could be a crumbled road or a sinkhole, and you wouldn't know until your car fell into it.

Remember: Turn Around. Don't Drown!

Before you drive around a high water sign or decide to go ahead and drive through water across the roadway, remember those four very important words: Turn Around Don't Drown.

[SOURCE: Ohio Township Fire Department via Facebook]