Water still covers the roadway on Sunday at state Route 131 just south of Randle. / Courtesy photo by Laci McEachin
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 75-year-old woman was pulled from her water-filled car by another motorist after she drove around a road closed sign in Randle on Saturday night.
The Glenoma man likely saved the woman from drowning, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said this morning.
The woman was headed northbound on Forest Service Road 25 when she encountered the roadway covered with water approaching state Route 131 near Skinner Road, Chief Deputy Stacy Brown said this morning.
The Vancouver woman went around the warning sign and her Toyota Scion went off the road and became partially submerged, Brown said.
It was about 9:30 p.m. when a vehicle coming up the 25 road behind her saw what happened and the 25-year-old Glenoma man jumped into the water. He was able to drag her out of her car to safety, Brown said.
The passenger compartment by then was nearly filled, according to Brown.
The victim was transported to the hospital for evaluation.
The Randle area was among those that experienced what weather forecasters described as minor flooding this weekend, and another rain storm could serve up even higher waters in the next few days.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Glad that the 75 yr old lady is alive! DUH–there are reasons why signs say “Road Closed” and why motorists should not drive down roads that are closed as we all know. Hopefully her evaluation leads her in the right direction to get the help that she needs; whether it be better eyeglasses, learning how to read, or not driving anymore. Nonetheless, she had an angel looking over her and she is alive.
I always feel sorry for the non-locals when they are coming out of the forest there on FR 25 and we are having a ‘high water’ event here in Randle. There are no obvious signs for the detour to go around this spot when the water comes over the road.
The detour signs are only visible if you are traveling east on Skinner road about a tenth of a mile back from the intersection, adn there are no others for that intersection.
Glad some quick thinker was there to rescue this woman.
This guy is a hero.
Time to hang up the car keys before someone does get hurt.
She had dementia dumbass.
Kudos to the Gentleman who rescued this ignorant driver who went around the sign and into deep water.
How can someone that ignorant survive to become 75? Time to hang up the car keys before someone does get hurt.