A truck driver had a rough time on Thursday after his big rig was swept away by flood water off a highway near Livingston, Texas. In a video posted to Twitter by journalist Samica Knight, the truck veers off to the right side of the road and then plunges into the water.
As the truck slowly creeps forward, the cab and trailer enter water high enough to clear the roof of the cab. The driver can be seen waving out his window and yelling for help. People, including the photographer, start yelling for the driver to get out of the truck.
Next, the driver wearing a reflective yellow jacket begins to climb out of his window and then sits down. At that point, the cab begins to turn and the truck jackknifes all while the driver sits atop the roof. As the cab turns almost 180 degrees, the trailer begins to drift into the brush. It's unclear what happened to the driver after.
??BREATHTAKING VIDEO shows moment big rig is swept away by flood waters on fwy in Livingston, TX. Witnesses yelling for driver to get out! The video shows man onto hood, waiting to be rescued. #abc13 #flooding #livingston #houston https://t.co/P8MnDgXCJd pic.twitter.com/zCvS0V7Wb2
— Samica Knight? (@SamicaKnight13) May 2, 2024
Exactly how the driver got into that predicament and swerved off the road is unclear. Other vehicles, including semis and pickup trucks, continue to drive through the flood water without issue. However, the video pans to the right, showing the other side of the highway, which is completely flooded.
According to reports, Texas and parts of Louisiana received more than 2 feet of water this week, prompting some areas to issue mandatory evacuation orders. Additionally, the National Weather Services says do not try to drive through floodwater.
