Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma
This is a cautionary tale for motorists: If a five-ton truck can’t make it across a swollen, quick-running creek, don’t even think about trying it in a car.
That’s the advice from Fire Marshall Steve Abbott, who has just participated in his third shallow water rescue this season. The latest incident occurred at about 8 a.m. on Feb. 23 at Sandia Creek, just south of the Riverside County line, when the driver of the truck began crossing the creek from the Rock Mountain side.
“He got about halfway across when his engine died,” Abbott said.
The driver, who was unidentified at press time, stayed with his vehicle and rescuers from the North County Fire Department did a “shallow water rescue” that took about 15 minutes, he said.
People trying to forge swift-running creeks and intersections has become a “real problem” this year because of the persistent rainstorms that have been pounding Southern California, Abbott said.
“If water comes up over your wheels and up to the side panel, the water can turn [the car] around and send it downstream,” he said. “What time you think you are saving by going through it, it’s just not worth it.”
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