Drivers Rescued From Flooded Oklahoma City Street

Emergency crews rushed to save two stranded drivers Monday night from fast-moving water in northwest Oklahoma City.

Just before 10:30 p.m., Oklahoma City Police came across a car that was underwater near N.W. 127th Street and MacArthur. A driver was trapped inside. Police called firefighters to help with the rescue.

By the time the water rescue team arrived, police had managed to get that driver out, but they realized there was a second vehicle also stranded in the high water with another driver stuck inside.

Firefighters had to act quickly but coming up with the right strategy wasn't easy. The rescue team needed to reposition the boat upstream to get to the stranded driver. Crews stretched ropes nearly 100 feet across the swollen creek to guide the boat downstream.

As minutes passed and the water continued to rise, firefighters realized they were facing another challenge: Not being able to communicate with the man they were trying to rescue. The man spoke mainly Spanish.

"He became quite scared, not knowing what we were doing, and we were unable to communicate with him," Oklahoma City Fire Chief Mike Walker said.

Firefighters were able to reach the driver before the fast-moving water overtook the SUV. Both drivers are okay, although one did suffer from slight hypothermia.