Man dies after truck trapped in rising Dallas floodwaters; Water rescue boat capsizes from rapid currents
DALLAS - A man died after his truck became stuck and nearly fully submerged in high water in north Dallas overnight Wednesday.
Deadly Flooding in Dallas
Man found dead after high water submerged his car
One man died after his vehicle got stuck in highwater under a North Dallas highway. Conditions were so dangerous that a rescue team had to wait to go into the water.
What we know:
Dallas Fire-Rescue responded to a call of a person trapped in high water under the Interstate 635 bridge near 12900 Park Central Drive just after midnight Tuesday. Multiple first responder agencies, including DFR's Swift Water Rescue team, arrived to find two vehicles in rapidly rising floodwaters.
First responders and a FOX 4 photojournalist at the scene spoke to a man who had managed to escape his submerged car and swim to safety. Due to dangerous conditions, crews had to wait for water levels to recede before checking the second vehicle. Once they were able to search the truck, they found one man deceased inside.
First Responder Boat Capsizes During Dallas Flood Rescue Attempt
During the rescue attempt for a victim in a fully submerged truck, the first water rescue boat launched by first responders capsized due to the rapid current, throwing crew members into the water. The crew members were wearing personal flotation devices so they were able to safely float to a nearby area and walk out of the water unharmed.
A second boat attempted to reach the truck, but strong currents prevented it from getting through. Crews then decided to wait until water levels receded before resuming the rescue effort.
High Water Safety
The National Weather Service advises against walking or driving into high water. They caution against driving through flooded roadways, as the condition of the road beneath the water is unknown.
Their safety slogan is: "Turn around, don't drown."
What we don't know:
The identity of the man who died has not yet been released by the medical examiner's office. Authorities have also not released information on how long the vehicles were stuck or what led the drivers into the floodwaters.
The Source: Information in this article comes from Dallas city officials and FOX 4 photojournalist Terry Van Sickle, who was at the scene of the incident.