One man died in a recent Mississippi motor vehicle accident involving a levee. It appears as though the man drowned after his vehicle slid down a levee into the Mississippi river, and he was unable to get it back up the levee. The accident happened near East Carondelet, at a time when the river was at an elevated stage.
Spring and fall often bring heavy rain to Mississippi. That rain often causes rivers and streams to flood, or, at the very least, to run very high and fast. Drivers should not operate their vehicles on or near levees because it is unsafe to do so. Levees are, by nature, unstable, and they can collapse. Floodwaters can also wash over the tops of levees, sweeping away vehicles, and anything else that is nearby.
Likewise, roads that are near rivers and streams can suffer damage during times when rainfall is heavy or frequent. In addition to floodwaters washing over the road surface, culverts and storm drains can fail or collapse. Scrutinize the side of the road as you drive along because road collapses often begin on the shoulder and can happen quickly.
When there is flooding, do not drive your vehicle on flooded roads. Water that is too high can enter your vehicle’s exhaust system and stall it, leaving you and your car at the mercy of the rushing water. Rain on the road obscures holes and other debris that can damage your vehicle. It could even conceal holes large enough for a car to fall through. Just six inches of water can disable many vehicles, and water that’s moving fast can sweep vehicles away quickly and without warning.
A good safety rule to follow is to avoid driving through water that you could not walk through. Also, avoid any water that is moving fast, even if it looks shallow enough to drive through. Moving water is a powerful force. If you see that the water is not moving quickly and it’s shallow enough to drive through, proceed slowly and carefully. Creep along at one to two miles per hour to start. As much as possible, drive in the center of the roadway because that’s the highest point. Once you have exited the water, continue to drive slowly and dry your brakes by tapping them lightly several times.
If you get swept up in floodwaters unexpectedly while you are driving, exit your vehicle if you can do so safely and get to higher ground. Do not try to restart the engine if it stalls; you could damage it severely. After your vehicle is recovered from the water, have it towed to a reputable mechanic and explain what happened- they’ll need to know that it was in a flood so they can repair it correctly.
If you were hurt or if a family member died in a Mississippi automobile accident, call the Mississippi Automobile Accident Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC, at 1 (800) 707-9577, to learn more.