WINSLOW — A late-night drive turned into a terrifying race against time when a motorist was swept off a rural road by raging floodwaters near the Patoka River Bridge.
Emergency crews from the Patoka Township Fire Department were dispatched at approximately 10:30 p.m. to a section of County Road 350 East near Winslow following reports of a vehicle trapped in a moving current.
According to first responders, the female driver was traveling away from the town of Winslow when she unexpectedly encountered high water stretching across the roadway. Due to the dark, low-visibility conditions, she was unable to stop her vehicle before entering the flooded zone.
Once the vehicle breached the water, the force of the flash flooding overpowered the car, sweeping it completely off the pavement.
Fortunately, the vehicle drifted roughly 150 feet before becoming wedged in a deep, large roadside ditch. Fire officials noted that this ditch likely saved the woman’s life by preventing the car from drifting further downstream into the main channel of the turbulent Patoka River.
Fire Chief Makes Wading Rescue
As the car settled into the ditch, water rapidly breached the cabin, completely flooding the vehicle’s interior and trapping the driver inside.
Faced with a rapidly deteriorating situation, Patoka Township Fire Chief Brandon Truitt personally entered the fast-moving floodwaters to reach the submerged vehicle. Assisting at the water’s edge, responder Bart Stemle provided crucial personal flotation devices (PFDs) to the scene.
Chief Truitt was able to secure the driver, fit her with a life vest, and carefully guide her through the current back to the safety of the dry shoreline.
The Pike County Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene to assist with traffic control and regional support. On-site Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel evaluated the shaken driver for signs of hypothermia and shock. She was cleared of serious injuries and subsequently driven home by a sheriff’s deputy.
Following the close call, emergency officials immediately notified the Pike County Highway Department of the severe road hazard, requesting that high-water warning signs be deployed to block off County Road 350 East.
The Universal Rule: “Turn Around, Don’t Drown”
Local public safety agencies are using this near-tragedy to remind Midwestern drivers about the dangers of summer flash flooding. According to the National Weather Service, it takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away a small sedan, and two feet of water can easily sweep away large SUVs and pickup trucks.
Because darkness significantly impairs a driver’s ability to judge the depth or speed of water over a road, motorists are urged to never bypass high-water markers and always turn around when encountering flooded pathways.
