Tuscaloosa Police Rescue Family Stranded By Flash Flood
Tuscaloosa Police Officers rescued around a dozen people stranded in a car during flash flooding in Tuscaloosa Tuesday night, a department spokeswoman said Friday.
Stephanie Taylor, the public information officer of the Tuscaloosa Police Department, said a Sgt. Spraggins was near the intersection Kaulton Road and 35th Street at 9 p.m. Tuesday when he heard voices calling for help.
Spraggins eventually found an SUV that had been swept off the road by fast-moving, waist-high floodwaters.
Taylor said at least 12 people, including some children and two infants, were stranded on the roof of the vehicle surrounded by water.
Taylor said Spraggins, Officer Bryant and Officer Prewitt worked together to pull the stranded victims to safety.
TPD Chief Brent Blankley praised the officer for their heroic efforts in a release sent Friday afternoon.
"They had a very calming demeanor with the kids, they assured them everything would be OK," Blankley said. "We're all grateful for the heroic actions of these officers They do work like this every day that a lot of people don't see. They're doing everything they can to help the public."