Swiftwater and cars . . . .

[lalyle]

I'm probably preaching to the choir, but just a reminder, DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH FLOODED ROADS! I had to watch a driver drown Thursday night. It wasn't fun. In fact, I've been a bit sick since then, wondering what I or anyone could have done differently that might have saved him.
Shin-deep flash flood water flushing across a city street was all it took to push a car sideways and drop it over a ledge, upside down, into a massive trench being scoured out by the force of the torrent. The force of the water pinned the upstream doors closed and the downstream side was hanging precariously over a rail above a 4' - 6' drop into a concrete ravine where an overwhelmed storm drainage system was emerging with deafening explosive force and pounding against walls, fencing, and the span of a low bridge 100 ft. downstream. I assume the driver, if conscious for any length of time, realized his fate was in the hands any successful rescuers . . . of whom there were none. I called 911 as soon as I arrived on the scene. In the meantime, I grabbed my throw rope and pfd and more rope from my trunk. The turbulence was far too dangerous for anyone to reach the car on a tether, though one guy tried despite the pleading of other bystanders. He got half the 30 ft to the car then screamed for his buddy to pull him back out. I could only watch and pray for someone to emerge from that car so I could throw a line. Four fire units showed up in a couple of minutes. They couldn't reach the car either without putting rescuers in serious danger. When the water subsided enough, a tethered rescuer broke a window and pulled the body out.

[paddledog]

One of the pieces of safety equipment that should be in your car is something
to break a window with. There are several commercial versions, here is one:
http://www.lifehammer.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
However, I prefer the nail setter that trim carpenters use.
http://www.springtools.com/default.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Had the driver had one, and be able to use it, escape from the back window
might have been possible.
No matter what you have available to you, the best tool in your tool box is your mind.
Don't be there in the first place........
When something bad happens anyway, self rescue is the best, safest and quickest
executed form of rescue.
Remember, the first person on the scene of any accident is the victim.

I commend you for being there with a throw rope and lifejacket, had the person
been able to escape the vehicle a throw rope would have been a welcome sight.

[lbaker]

lalyle, What a terrible thing to have on your mind. Sounds to me like you did all you safely could...but I'm sure it will stay with you a long time.

Paddledog,
Thanks for the reminder, as I was reading your post it dawned on my that my tool kit is in my wheel well under a panel in the back of my car; no way I could get to anything if I had such a tool. Thanks for the links. Most of us know better, but there are other circumstances where one could find that type of tool lifesaving.

[Mtngal]

Okay, all you peeps....where on earth can you put such a device that you could reach it in an emergency? Under the seat is unreachable unless you can get out of the car and down on your knees next to it to fumble around under trying to find it? The glove box may also be unreachable. My hubby and I have been going 'round and 'round about this very subject for some time now. Stick it to the steering column????? Help!

[DMG]

I had one of these for a while:

S&W First Response Knife

You can't see it very well in the photo but there's a pointy nub on the butt end of it for breaking glass. It also has a seat belt cutter. It would seem you could attach it to your sun visor fairly easily. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea to round off the point, too.

~Dave

[Cowper]

Okay, all you peeps....where on earth can you put such a device that you could reach it in an emergency?

The answer is probably different for every car and truck. But yeah, mounting it to something like the dash or steering column is probably a good option. Put it where you can reach out and find it with your eyes closed, every time. People mount gps's, cell phones, tv monitors, fire extinguishers - if you want a hammer / seat belt cutter mounted, just do it or hire it done. Make sure you choose a location where a deploying air bag won't knock it off or into your face.

Also, while you can't predict some things like getting knocked off a bridge due to another driver's mistake, if you decide to attempt a water crossing, this might be one of the few times you would want to unbuckle your seat belt and roll down your windows, even if it is raining. If you go in unexpectedly, try to get the windows down before the motors fail.

Lee, horrible experience. You did several things right - you had some rescue gear handy; you did not create another victim. Thanks for being willing to share it with us, so that maybe we can think about this and be better prepared ourselves.

[RandyJ]

Do a web or Amazon search for the "Res-Q-ME" tool (sorry. can't get the link to work right here). It's a small, keychain version of a larger product called the "LifeHammer". Both are purported to break auto glass and cut seat belt webbing.



I don't have either one, but lalyle, after reading your story and hearing about a similar incident recently, I think I'll get one now. Sorry you had to see and experience that.

[DMG]

My original post on this thread was not very sensitive to the victim and his loved ones or to lalyle and the others who tried to help but could only watch. I've edited it. I apologize once again.

~Dave

[paddledog]

Hmmm....................
It seems I may have chosen the Christmas gift for several
people on my list.
Cowper is right on with somewhere you know where it is, and it will stay.
I have mine in the glove box. Not super accessible.

[Butch Crain]

http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=304" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

opens and closes w/ one hand, carbide glass breaker, rescue whistle, clips to pfd or visor, also in black

[Roger]

First hand account from the individual who helped rescue occupants from a car in Little Rock last week.

“Hero’s” Press Release

"On Thursday, October 29. after record-breaking downpours in Little Rock, fate arranged for my small part in a harrowing water rescue of a mother and 12-year-old son from a sinking SUV.

The next three days brought equally staggering showers of praise to me, a “hero,” as well as sharp criticism of KARK 4, whose journalists made no effort to intervene as they broadcast the dramatic rescue on live television. The video became one of the most viewed clips of the weekend on CNN.com.

All this “hero” talk is exciting to me, but also troublesome. Is "heroism" something to which we all can aspire, and to which we all are called, in duty to our neighbors? Or does naming a firefighter a "hero", for instance, excuse the rest of us from the duty of dragging a stranger from a burning building?

I give myself a "C" for that night. Subtract two letter grades for not having my rope more organized, for not realizing the car would go so deep, and for not having a metal tool in hand when I swam out to the vehicle."

http://www.arktimes.com/blogs/arkansasb ... lease.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Butch Crain]

Roger, you're right - it's sad that doing the right thing is so unusual that it's risen to the level of heroism.

But good on ya anyway, Bro.

And you too Lalyle - it's knowing you've got to move - regardless of results that are good, bad, or indifferent - that matters.

[Jaytee]

am so sorry, that sounds so upsetting and haunting.

As one of the fools who has made the very error of which you speak, let me add my voice to the chorus.

In February 1994 I attempted to cross a rising river in northern Arizona in a Nissan Pathfinder, not realizing how much the dam release had changed since we had crossed the other direction the day before. Where the road crossed, the water was only about crotch deep so we figured we could power through.

Wrong.

I had scarcely left the bank when the full force of the current yanked the front end of the vehicle sideways. I popped it in reverse but promptly stalled as water started washing over the hood, in through every opening, etc. And the car was pulled off the elevated road into deeper downstream water.

The passenger side (upstream) door could not be opened do to water force. As I opened the driver's side door, the vehicle was rocking precariously, trying to decide if it was going to roll. We got out and swam around the back and popped the hatch to grab two terrified dogs and the vehicle continued down.

Scared, cold, in the middle of nowhere and alive. We were very pleased not to be a news story the next morning where people could discuss how stupid we were.

[Roger]

Butch, twasn't me!! Guy's name was Thomas Hudson. These days the H-word gets tossed around for a lot of actions and deeds that once were everyday occurences. Personally, I think Mr. Hudson really might be deserving since he did risk his life.

I thought what was interesting was his own assessment of his actions. Heck, I'd give a B for just trying!