Crews rescue man from floodwaters in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS - Cedar Rapids Fire Fighters, assisted by Cedar Rapids Police, successfully rescued an older man whose car was submerged in Prairie Creek floodwaters just south of 4003 J Street. The emergency teams approached the overrun bridge on J-street from both the north and south and observed that the car's driver could not get out.

Just after 1 a.m., the Cedar Rapids Fire Department deployed a boat team to wade through the three foot deep flood water in order to remove Ronald Ray Whitney from his red Chevy Blazer. The male driver did not report any injuries when emergency services arrived on scene, and did not need medical attention. The driver refused to comment on the situation.

“This is not very normal at all,” Mike Cheney, acting Captain of CRFD Engine 2 said.

According to officials, the vehicle stalled in the water and could not be driven out. Firefighters helped secure the vehicle to a tow-truck and the the vehicle had been removed from the scene by 1:30 a.m.