Sacramento fire crews rescue driver from flooded road | News

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA - A man who admitted thinking it was OK to drive onto a barricaded road at Deer Creek Bridge in south Sacramento County even though it was flooded had to be rescued Wednesday.

Sacramento Metro Fire District Asst. Chief Scott Cockrum said the man, a 70-year-old resident of the area, told first responders he was driving home and saw the barricades at Kiefer Boulevard and Jackson Road. However, because he had been safely able to drive through the flooded roads in the past, thought he could do so again.

The man drove about two-thirds of the way across when his car was swept by the current into one of the barricades and became stuck, Cockrum said. A four-wheel drive fire unit was able to drive into the water and firefighters pulled the man to safety.

Cockrum said the water was about four feet deep.

The rescue call involved a helicopter, two boats, an ambulance and the California Highway Patrol besides fire crews, Cockrum said. He urged drivers to pay attention to roads indicated off-limits.