A burst of heavy storms turned a routine drive into a dangerous water rescue Saturday night, after fast-rising floodwater trapped two cars beneath the I-35 bridge at Britton Road in northeast Oklahoma City.
Water pooled under the overpass as storms hammered the metro, slowing traffic on nearby lanes while emergency crews rushed in to help. Rescue teams moved through the fast-moving water to reach the stranded vehicles and keep onlookers at a safe distance.
According to KOCO, crews were called to a water rescue at the intersection of Britton Road and Interstate 35 and were working to remove two vehicles stuck beneath the bridge. The station reported that officials had not released any information on possible injuries as of the latest update.
Flash-flood Warnings Across The County
Before the water started stacking up under the bridge, the National Weather Service had issued flash-flood and flood advisories for parts of central Oklahoma as storms dumped heavy rain and strong winds across the metro. Alerts from the National Weather Service stress that underpasses, low-lying spots and poorly drained roads can fill quickly when storms like these roll through.
Rescue Crews On Scene
Firefighters and rescue teams used swift-water tactics to secure the vehicles, guide tow operators into position and keep bystanders from edging too close to the flooded underpass. As KOCO reported, crews were still working to pull the cars out from beneath the overpass, and the status of anyone who may have been inside the vehicles remained unknown.
What Drivers Should Know
The National Weather Service's "Turn Around, Don't Drown" guidance is blunt for a reason: just six inches of fast-moving water can knock over an adult, and about 12 inches can carry away most cars. The takeaway for motorists is simple and, on nights like this, very local - do not try to drive through flooded roadways. For more on flood safety, see the National Weather Service.
Officials had not released further details late Saturday. This report will be updated when city or county agencies provide additional information about injuries, vehicle removals or road closures.
