SPRINGDALE -- A Springdale policeman pulled a woman out of a flooded creek after her vehicle was swept off Puppy Creek Road at 9:33 p.m. Friday, Sgt. Chad Niccum said Saturday.
Heavy rain caused some flooding in the north end of Springdale around 8 p.m. Friday, Niccum said. Water from Puppy Creek rose and spilled over into the road, according to a news release.
The area is known to be prone to flooding.
Officer Patrick Olcott was in his vehicle behind a woman who was driving a small SUV, according to a news release Friday. When the woman attempted to drive across the road, the vehicle was swept away and into the creek, police said. The woman was the only person in the vehicle and got out of her vehicle and was swept a little further downstream, according to the release.
Olcott left his vehicle, crossed the flooded road, found the woman and pulled her out of the floodwater, according to the release. The woman was not hurt.
Olcott's actions to save the woman were dangerous, but sometimes officers must take risks, Niccum said. Floodwater can be deadly, he said.
Police tell drivers not to cross roads if there is water on them, Niccum said. Even a few inches of water on a road can wash away a vehicle, he said.
"We tell people: Don't cross the water. If you can't see the road, don't cross the road," Niccum said.
Every year, someone tries to cross a flooded road and ends up in trouble, said Shawn Shrum, Washington County assistant road superintendent. The county emergency management department has put up signs encouraging people not to cross when water is on the road, he said.
"It's important," Shrum said. "You never know if that water has washed out part of the road. You just can't see that."
The street department blocked Puppy Creek Road after the incident Friday to prevent more people from crossing, Niccum said. Most of Springdale did not flood, he said.
Flooding in Washington County also did not appear to be a problem Friday night, Shrum said.
The National Weather Service has called for possibly severe thunderstorms in Northwest Arkansas for today.
NW News on 04/19/2015