Crews rescued a driver who became trapped in a car Friday morning due to rising water levels, according to Atlanta Fire Rescue.
Ricardo Roberson told Channel 2 Action News that he swerved to miss a tree that came down in front of him. When he did that, his Lexus ended up in about 3 feet of water at Boulder Park Drive and Dollar Mill Road in southwest Atlanta.
He called 911, and authorities freed him just before 9 a.m. It was not clear how long he was trapped in the car. He escaped without a scratch, according to the news station.
Atlanta Fire assisted one male from the vehicle seen in the video above at approximately 8:45am this morning. Boulder Park Drive is closed at this time due to partial roadway collapse.
— Atlanta Fire Rescue (@ATLFireRescue) December 28, 2018
Boulder Park Drive was closed due to a partial roadway collapse, the fire department said. Video footage from the agency showed water rushing through the area.
“Turn Around, Don’t Drown!” More #rain expected throughout #Atlanta. Do not drive through #flooded areas, standing water, or fast moving water on the roadway. Especially near creeks & streams as seen here on Boulder Park Drive. #AFRD pic.twitter.com/SVHme0GnMG
— Atlanta Fire Rescue (@ATLFireRescue) December 28, 2018
“Do not drive through flooded areas, standing water or fast-moving water on the roadway — especially near creeks and streams,” the fire department said.
Parts of metro Atlanta have seen more than 4 inches of rainfall in the last 24 hours, leading to numerous flood warnings and road closures.
This year was sitting at the eighth-wettest on record for Atlanta at the beginning of the week, but the rainfall Thursday and Friday has bumped 2018 through the rankings. It is now ranked as the second-wettest year on record, and Channel 2 meteorologist Katie Walls said it could be close to the top spot by Dec. 31.
2018 is now the 2nd WETTEST on record. With additional rainfall expected Sunday and New Year's Eve, I suspect we'll be close to the record! pic.twitter.com/xOoE9xCPf2
— Katie Walls (@KatieWallsWSB) December 28, 2018
The record was set at 71.45 inches in 1948, and Atlanta was at 69.46 inches at noon Friday.
Channel 2 meteorologist Brad Nitz expects an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain to fall later Friday.
8am update: 3.13" rainfall has been measured in Atlanta (at @ATLairport ) since the rain began yesterday afternoon.
— Brad Nitz (@BradNitzWSB) December 28, 2018
An additional 1-2" rainfall is possible today. The flood threat increase through the morning. Flash Flood Watch is in effect today.
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