'We could only see two to three inches of the top of the vehicle'
ALBANY, Ore. - The sun is shining and roads are dry, but looks can be deceiving.
"People may be getting into the sense that things are OK, water levels are dropping down," said Michael Trabue, district chief with the Albany Fire Department, "but it's deceptive."
The fire department responded to a traffic accident Thursday afternoon - and found a car in the water.
"We could only see two to three inches of the top of the vehicle," Trabue said.
This was the seventh water-related incident the fire department had responded to since flooding started Jan. 17. Two of those incidents were rescues involving vehicles, including a car swept into storm waters that claimed the lives of a young mother and her infant son.
Knowing time was of the essence on Thursday, crews scambled to get to the vehicle.
"It's probably the most submerged car I've had a chance to deal with or had to deal with," said Lt. Jamie Smith with the fire department, "so I really didn't expect anybody to be inside."
But there was.
"I was able to yell out, 'Is anybody in here?' while I was sweeping with my hand," Smith said, "and immediately I made contact, and we gripped hands."
The water rescue team was able to pull the man to safety.
"Yhere's a lot of different factors that played, but they played in his favor," Smith said.
Smith said situations like this are pretty rare, but it doesn't take much for people to find themselves in the same boat.
"It only takes about 2 feet of water or less to float a vehicle," he said, "and at that point you are not in control."
And when it comes to avoiding these situations, firefighters said their advice is simple.
"Find another route," Trabue said. "It's not worth the risk to you and the occupants that may be driving with you."
