Traffic Crash Ends With Somewhat Bizarre Raging Water Rescue Along Highway 29

January 21, 2022

What began as a rather ordinary traffic crash on Highway 29 Thursday night ended with a somewhat bizarre raging water rescue in what, moments before, had been a dry ditch.

Four vehicles — an older Ford Econoline conversion van, two pickups and a truck hauling propane cylinders — were involved in the crash on northbound Highway 29 just south of 9 1/2 Mile Road at Dave Howell Tires just before 6 p.m.

The van ran off the roadway and into a fairly shallow ditch. And there’s when the situation quickly changed

It appeared the van struck and sheared off a fire hydrant, causing the ditch to rapidly fill with water and become a raging river that washed away the shoulder of the roadway.

Escambia County Fire Rescue Special Operations was called to the scene to rescue the van occupant.

According to witness accounts, the firefighters appeared to almost be swept away as the ground collapsed and a good Samaritan rushed into help.

We know the occupant of the van was rescued and there were no injuries to firefighters. The Florida Highway Patrol has not released further details as they investigate the crash.

The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority responded and shut down the water flow.

For more photos, click here.

NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “Traffic Crash Ends With Somewhat Bizarre Raging Water Rescue Along Highway 29”

  1. Adam on January 21st, 2022 10:47 am

    Motivational commenter/speaker
    Do you mean proverbial?

  2. Charlotte Rebecca Bates on January 21st, 2022 10:33 am

    WOW!! That poor van and of course the people inside. Just glad no one was seriously hurt.

  3. Motivational commenter/speaker on January 21st, 2022 8:06 am

    Your preverbal; “van down by the river”

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News