Flooding closes roads, leads to car rooftop rescue

By
Magen Kritsch
-

Three people had to be rescued from the roof of a car in Franklin after water rushed into the vehicle, causing them to scramble to the roof of the vehicle to escape the water.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office dive team was on stand-by Thursday and the county highway department worked to barricade roads that became too dangerous for motorists to navigate because of high waters.

This vehicle was submerged in water on Morgantown Road about a quarter mile south of Smith Valley Road on Thursday afternoon. The driver hydroplaned and left the roadway but escaped, according to White Glove Towing, who provided the photo.
This vehicle was submerged in water on Morgantown Road about a quarter mile south of Smith Valley Road on Thursday afternoon. The driver hydroplaned and left the roadway but escaped, according to White Glove Towing, who provided the photo.

Rain pounded the county for most of the day Thursday, prompting flood warnings and dozens of roads were closed as of late Thursday afternoon. The ground was already saturated with days of rainfall after earlier snowfall.

High water is dangerous to try to drive through and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and other first responders want motorists to obey signs warning them of the danger and not attempt to drive through high water, according to a news release from Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess.

Motorists cannot always judge how deep the water is or how swift the current is moving, the news release said.

The Bargersville Fire Department responded to a call in the 2700 block of County Road 225 West in rural Franklin after a motorist chose to drive through high water. Three people were rescued from the top of the vehicle after water rushed in, the news release said.

The following roads were closed as of Thursday afternoon:

  • County Road 300N., at County Road 450W.
  • County Road 800N., at Mullinix Road.
  • Whiteland Road and Honey Creek Road.
  • Demaree Road and Honey Creek.
  • County Road 250S., between U.S. 31 and Mauxferry Road.
  • County Road 725 E. between Greensburg Road and County Road 400S.
  • County Road 350S., between Mauxferry Road and U.S. 31.
  • County Road 400S., between Mauxferry Road and U.S. 31.
  • Olive Branch Road and Runyon Road.
  • Morgantown Road at Stones Crossing Road.
  • Grizzly Drive at the football field.
  • Hurricane Road at Whiteland Road.
  • Buckhart Creek Road at Mauxferry Road.
  • 2700 block of S. County Road 225W.
  • W. Madison Street at N. Jackson Street.
  • Walnut Street at W. Jefferson Street.
  • County Road 500W., at County Road700S.
  • Howard Road at Winding Brook Trail.
  • 3500 block of S. Airport Road.
  • County Road 400N., between Graham Road and the railroad tracks.
  • McClain Drive at County Road 500E.
  • County Road 100N., at County Road 500E.
  • The 99 mile marker of Interstate 65.
  • Nineveh Road at County Road 900S.
  • Rozell Drive.
  • Cedarmill Drive and Hurricane Road.

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