Following more than 24 hours of intermittent and sometimes heavy rain a number of the usual low-lying areas in the county were underwater Sunday, as one motorist found out shortly after 6:30 a.m.
Jacqueline A. Mueller, 24, of Carthage found standing water on CR 800N near Blue River Road a little deep for her liking when her 1999 Ford Taurus stalled, stranding her in nearly three feet of water.
Rush County Sheriff’s Department deputy Dave Sliger said Mueller was westbound when she saw the water-covered road in front of her, but felt she could make it to the other side of the county road that crosses the Big Blue River near the Carthage water plant.
“The driver drove into the water and the vehicle’s engine died, stranding her about half way through,” Sliger said.
The driver was uninjured although her vehicle sustained extensive water damage to the interior and electrical system.
There are several low lying areas in the county that are subject to flooding and the county highway department identifies many of them with signage to that effect.
Standing water which may appear to be shallow can cause a vehicle to stall and strand the driver and any passengers.
A rule of thumb is if you can’t see the road surface beneath the water you should not attempt to drive through it.
These areas have been identified as being most likely to pose flooding or high-water risks.
n CR 800N southwest of Carthage.
n Ewbank covered bridge area on CR 150N.
n Norris covered bridge area on CR 300N.
n CR 715W (Homer/Arlington Pike).
n CR 225W south of SR 244.
n Flatrock River Road south of SR 44.
n CR 800N near CR 450E.
Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.
