VERSAILLES, Mo. — A car containing a woman and toddler was swept off the road by flash flooding on Tuesday morning. The area received approximately two inches of rain in a short period of time, submerging the intersection of Highway 5 and Highway 52 in Versailles under water.
The woman was turning in the Eagle Stop Gas Station in Versailles at approximately 11:20 a.m. on Tuesday, June 26 with her toddler in the back seat, when the car was swept into the ditch.
The Versailles Police were the first to arrive on the scene. They called Morgan County dispatch to request a swift water rescue team from the Versailles City Fire Department. In the meantime, police officers talked to the woman, giving her instructions, while trying to help her to remain calm.
According to Versailles City Fire Department Fire Chief Dwayne Miller, the fire rescue team was paged out at 11:30 a.m. to a motor vehicle accident.
“The woman could not see the road under the water, so she missed the turn into the gas station drive and her car was swept into the flood waters,” Chief Miller explained. “The water was up to the door and entering her car when we arrived on the scene.”
“Tim 'Timmy Tire' Ramer was already on the scene attempting to rescue the woman,” Chief Miller reported. “Tim said, he would go into the water and I told him it was too deep to go in without a rope.” Chief Miller threw a rope to Ramer. Ramer grabbed the rope and proceeded to tread through the water to the car. “He first pulled the toddler out of the car, and after the child was brought to safety, he went back and rescued the woman.”
Two Versailles Police Officers, five Versailles City Firefighters and one Versailles Rural Firefighter responded to this incident. The emergency responders left the scene at 11:45 a.m.
Ron’s Towing pulled the car out of the water.
Multiple Morgan County Roads Flooded
Morgan County 911 Emergency Management Director Rick Bias said he began receiving reports of flooding in the county around 9:54 a.m. “Any place there is a low water crossing in the county is flooded,” Bias warned, around noon on Tuesday. “We have multiple low water crossings covered in water. The roadways at Highway 5 and 52, Highway 5 and Highway 135, west of Stover, and the intersection of Highway W and Highway T were all covered in water this morning. We have not received all the reports into our office, these are just the places I have visited.”
He continued, “The water is receding, however, there is more rain in the forecast. Anytime you receive a large amount of rain, in a short period of time, there will be flooding.” Bias attributes the main cause of this flood event to clogged storm drains.
Take the Long Way Around
“When you come to a low water crossing, if you can’t see the ground, then do not cross. It is not safe,” Chief Miller also warned. “Wait until the water recedes or take the long way around.”
Chief Miller also warned citizens to be cautious on their property and to not allow their children to play in culverts, or near running water, when they see the water rising. “A few years ago, a young man in Eldon was swept away and killed, after getting too close to a drain culvert,” Chief Miller reminded. “If the water can pick up a car, imagine what it can do to a child. You just don’t know how fast the water can change.”
Rain in the Forecast – Warning to Motorists
The National Weather Service posted a Hazardous Weather Outlook on Tuesday, June 26 for portions of Camden, Morgan, Miller and Benton Counties that included; a limited tornado risk and an elevated risk for; hail, thunderstorms, wind damage, lightening and an excessive heat risk.
“If you see the water is over the roadway. Stop and go a different route,” Chief Miller advised.
