In a recent incident highlighting the dangers of flash floods in Texas, a group of Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) workers heroically saved a man from near drowning. The workers were performing a routine check of barricades on I-30 frontage roads, which had been inundated by heavy rains, when they witnessed a 2019 Ford Fiesta attempting to navigate the flooded terrain, according to a story released by TxDOT.

Casey Aaron, a TxDOT transportation tech, observed the vehicle drive past him and through the barricade, only to be swiftly carried away by the powerful current towards East Caddo Creek. The situation escalated quickly as the driver was forced to clamber out of the window and into the rapids. Aaron recounted how he saw the driver float under the two bridges and then caught him at the third bridge on the frontage road. He managed to maintain a grip on the man's hand and forearm, which were the only parts of him still above water. Efforts to pull the man to safety were hampered by the aggressive waters and treacherous conditions.

Assistance soon arrived as several other TxDOT employees converged on the scene to aid in the rescue. Together, they succeeded in lifting the man out of the perilous waters. In a statement highlighting the crew's swift response, Noel Paramanantham, TxDOT’s chief engineer in the Paris District, said, "These TxDOT employees had to act quickly while staying safe and coming together as a team to save this man’s life," as relayed by the TxDOT report.

The TxDOT workers remained with the stranded driver until emergency medical responders could take over. This incident stands as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by flash flooding, which is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the state. The TxDOT urges motorists to heed the warning "Turn Around, Don't Drown," emphasizing the risks associated with attempting to drive through flooded roads.