KLTV 7 News Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville |2 rescued from River Road...deja vu, anyone?

2 rescued from River Road...deja vu, anyone?

By Philippe Djegal - email
Posted by Ellen Krafve - bio | email

BIG SANDY, TX (KLTV) - An East Texas mother and her child took what they thought was a shortcut. They were headed from Winona, on their way to Big Sandy. But, the road was flooded, and they got stuck in the water, forcing the fire department and other emergency personnel to fish them out. It happened at around 10:30 Thursday morning on River Road in Big Sandy.

Rescuers say water topped the tires of 22-year-old Jessica Prescott's 2007 Jeep.

"She had enough water that it was up to her dash inside of her vehicle already by the time we got to rescue them out," said Big Sand Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Jones.

Prescott and her one-year-old son were trapped on the flooded road, where warning signs caution waters are high and a barricade sits in the middle of the street.Yet, we are told, Prescott just drove on through.

"She says she just kind of drove around the barricade to see if she could make it," said Jones. "She wasn't sure because she's never been down there before."

Three quarters of a mile of the road is flooded. Jones says it took four firemen, Big Sandy PD and the Upshur County fire marshall to pull her out.

"We're expecting another inch to three inches overnight tonight possibly, and if the flood gates open at Lake Fork like they're talking about, then we'll have maybe two more [feet] down over that road," said Jones. "It's just going to get worse from here on with all the rain we're having."

Jessica Prescott and her little boy made it out of the water just fine. Neither was injured. The Big Sandy Fire Department stresses that River Road is closed. It is off limits until the water recedes.

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