HOW WE SEE IT: When Road Is Flooded, Turn Around

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — The 911 call that Whitley Anschutz made last week while stuck in her vehicle should be required listening for all driver’s education students.

Anschutz, an 18-year-old Elkins woman, was driving home from work early on the morning of July 13 when she attempted to cross a flooded section of Crossover Road in Fayetteville. She had seen the car in front of her drive through about 2 feet of water, so she figured she could make it through OK as well.

Unfortunately, the water took control of her red Chevrolet Cobalt, and Anschutz became trapped. She called 911 for help.

If you listened to the call - it was posted on our website - what you heard fromAnschutz was pure terror. At one point, despite the 911 dispatcher’s attempts to calm her, she burst into a series of bloodcurdling screams as the water began to seep into her car.

“Get me out!” she shouted repeatedly.

Fortunately, two Fayetteville firefighters were able to do just that - and just in the nick of time. Moments after plucking Anschutz from her vehicle, the Cobalt was swept away. It ended up nearly a mile away in someone’s backyard, overturned.

A few points are worth making about this incident.

First, we salute the rescuers, firefighters Justin Clark and Willy Watts, who waded through the water, opened Anschutz’s door and carried her to safety. They are heroes. It was another example of why we should be grateful for all of our emergency responders; they do fine work under extraordinary circumstances.

We also can’t forget the work of the dispatcher, who demonstrated extreme patience with and compassion for the panicking young woman.

The mistake Anschutz made in attempting to cross the flooded road was not an uncommon one. In fact, at roughly the same time as Anschutz’s incident, Springdale firefighters had to pull two men off the roof of a submerged sport utility vehicle after they drove through a road flooded by Spring Creek.

People too often take unnecessary risks driving through moving water; what they fail to realize is that it only takes a couple of feet of water (as was the case last week) to sweep away a vehicle. These drivers not only put themselves in harm’s way, but also force rescuers to risk their own lives coming after them.

Also, it should be noted that just because one vehicle successfully navigates a flooded road doesn’t mean the next one will.

We’re sorry that Anschutz had to learn these lessons the hard way, but relieved that she escaped unhurt.

The vicious flash flood that killed 20 people at a campground in Montgomery County last month demonstrated how powerful, dangerous and unforgiving water can be. Water gives life, but also takes it away. That’s a good thing for motorists and everyone else to keep in mind.