Flash Flood Traps Motorist in Car

Heavy rains that pummeled the Tampa Bay area Wednesday morning created a dangerous situation on some local roads.

A motorist in St. Petersburg found out the hard way just how dangerous the conditions actually were. The woman was driving in the 600 block of Rosa Park around 7:30 a.m. when her vehicle was overwhelmed by rising water, St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue officials wrote in an email.

When crews were called out to the scene, they found the woman trapped inside the vehicle, which was taking on water. The water was moving in so quickly, the woman had to climb into the back seat, the agency noted.

“There was a flash flood in the area, which caused the water to rise approximately 4 to 5 feet above the canal,” the agency explained. “The driver of the vehicle was unaware of the danger and got caught in the swift water.”

Seeing that the water was continuing to rise quickly, fire crews acted fast to anchor themselves with ropes before entering what was described as a “fast-moving current.”

To rescue the woman, the vehicle’s back window had to be broken out, the agency noted.

The woman, who has not been identified, was taken to Bayfront Health for treatment of minor injuries.

A front moving through the Tampa Bay area has created rainy conditions that are anticipated to last throughout Wednesday. Storms are expected to move out by Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Photos courtesy of St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue