Woman, mother rescued from car after heavy rains cause flooding in Chester
CHESTER, Pa. (WPVI) -- A woman and her mother were rescued after heavy rains caused flooding, trapping them inside a car in Delaware County.
Seventy-one-year-old Caroline Williams of Wilmington tells us she was driving home with her 91-year-old mother, Sarah Smith, by her side after a day of fun in Chester.
They were just a few miles away from the casino when a torrential, quick-hitting rain storm rapidly flooded the intersection of Route 291 and Tilghman Street around 3 p.m. Thursday.
Williams says one moment the road was passable - the next moment it wasn't.
"I couldn't avoid it cause the water was coming up so fast, and I tried to turn and the water just pushed me over to the side of the road," said Williams.
Williams tells us she could only watch helplessly as the flood waters rose above the hood of her car.
"My mom was hollering, "I'm getting wet, I'm getting wet, I'm getting wet,' " said Williams. "I said, 'Mom, there's nothing I can do about it.' "
The watermark on Smith's back shows just how high the water rose inside the vehicle.
Fortunately, they were able to call 911, and crews were dispatched from the Chester Fire Station located just a few blocks away.
Upon arrival, firefighters dispatched a boat to rescue the victims, and brought them to higher and drier ground.
"They were in trouble and that's what we're here for. Luckily the fire house is right here," said Chester Fire Department Capt. James Krapf. "We were there in a matter of basically seconds, and the crews did a great job."
The incident came 30 minutes after rescuing the driver of a vehicle stranded in flood water near the corner of 7th and Lloyd.
Williams says the good news is their story has a happy ending.
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