Three rescued by boat after ignoring flooded road warnings

Washington County authorities rescued three people by boat from two separate incidents of motorists ignoring signs indicating that roads were flooded.

Both incidents happened near McKain's Access on Dogwood Avenue near Brighton. The roadway was closed by the Washington County secondary roads department on Aug. 12 due to high water.

The first rescue occurred at 3:55 a.m. on Friday when a 17-year-old teen from Brighton had to be rescued by boat after driving into the area. The teen was not injured.

The second happened at 10:35 p.m. on Saturday when authorities from several agencies rescued Jake Franckowiak, 19, and Michael Dice, 20, both of Washington, Ia. Neither were injured.

Authorities charged Franckowiak with failure to obey a traffic control device and trespassing. Dice also was charged with trespassing.

A release from the sheriff's office says, “The Washington County Sheriff's Office and the Washington County Attorney's Office will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who violates these traffic control devices in flooded areas. Persons disregarding these postings will also be subject to paying for the cost of emergency rescue.”