Body Found After Driver Swept Away by San Bernardino County Floodwaters

Floodwaters Claim a Life in San Bernardino County

• 💔 A tragic incident occurred in the Cohone Pass where a man was swept away by raging floodwaters after his pickup truck became stuck.
• 🚨 Swiftwater rescue teams resumed their search for the driver who was last seen on the roof of his submerged vehicle.
• 🌊 The driver had driven into a roadway with 3 to 4 feet of fast-moving water, a decision that proved fatal.

Rescue Efforts and Dangers

• ⚠️ As rescue crews approached, the truck shifted, and the driver was swept away by the powerful current.
• 🥶 Fire officials highlighted the dangers of traumatic injuries from debris and hypothermia due to the cold water and wind.
• 📉 The water was rushing at over 15 mph, with temperatures in the low 40s and wind gusts up to 40 mph, creating extremely dangerous conditions.

Storm Impacts Beyond the Flood

• 🌨️ The same storm brought blizzard-like conditions to the San Bernardino County mountains, with heavy snow in areas like Lake Arrowhead and Crestline.
• 🌳 Throughout the region, toppled trees and debris caused significant damage, blocking roads and downing power lines.
• 🚗 In Westwood, a tree crashed onto passing traffic, hitting at least two cars near UCLA.
• ⚡ In the San Fernando Valley, a large tree fell, bringing down power lines and causing outages.
• 🌉 A dramatic scene unfolded on the 405 freeway where a large tree dangled precariously over the southbound lanes, forcing closures.

Hazardous Road Conditions

• ⚠️ In Santa Monica, overwhelmed storm drains caused manhole covers to blow out, with one cover weighing up to 300 lbs being struck by an SUV and launched into the air.
• 🚧 Other drivers had to dodge open manholes, creating a dangerous situation for commuters.