By Patty Montagno
Staff Writer
The record-breaking rains that pounded north Texas during the month of May and was the cause of severe flooding, property damage and deaths have finally ceased. The flooding played local havoc in Sachse causing two separate high water rescues.
At approximately 6:45 a.m. May 28 a young lady traveling north on Miles Road became trapped in her vehicle while approaching Pleasant Valley Road, just south of the George Bush Turnpike. The Rowlett Creek overflow halfway submerged her car.
According to Sachse Police Lt. Marty Cassidy the woman realized she was in deep water but her engine stalled and she was trapped. The Wylie Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team was called. The lady was able to climb through the roof of her vehicle and was rescued.
The second incident occurred about 45 minutes later when a Sachse Police Officer had to be rescued.
Police Lt. Steve Norris drove to the area to block other vehicles from driving down the dangerous roadway.
Cassidy said the officer drove down Pleasant Valley Road and backed his 2013 Chevy Tahoe into a “high spot” to block southbound traffic.
“As he was sitting in his police vehicle, the water rose at an extremely fast pace north of him leaving him surrounded and trapped,” he said. “The Sachse and neighboring fire departments were called. The swift current made attempts to reach the officer by hovercraft impossible.”
Eventually a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter arrived and was able to pull the officer from his car and land him safely in a nearby field that wasn’t flooded.
A team from Sachse FD met him at touchdown and got him into the waiting ambulance for medical evaluation.
“He was physically fine,” Cassidy said. “He had an elevated heart rate. He had a 5-minute ride from a helicopter at the end of a rope.
Miles Road/ Pleasant Valley Road North of the George Bush Tollway into Garland remained closed over the weekend.
Although the water has mostly receded the roadways sustained serious damage.
“The city of Garland will be evaluating if the roadway is safe for travel,” he said. “We will keep the public updated.”
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