Driver rescued after car becomes half submerged in Ka’u flood waters on the Big Island

Big Island firefighters early Saturday morning rescued a driver from a half-submerged vehicle in Kaʻū on the Big Island.

According to a press release from the Hawaʻi Fire Department, three units and four personnel from the Pāhala Fire Station’s Company 11 responded shortly before 5 a.m. to a county road in Wood Valley where a sedan had become stuck in fast-moving flood waters.

The driver had driven past barriers and attempted to cross the flood waters when their vehicle became disabled and ended up half submerged in the middle of a river bed. The driver, who was not identified, was the only occupant of the vehicle. Firefighters were able to rescue the driver safely and uninjured.

All units were back in quarters by 5:41 a.m., about an hour after receiving the rescue call.

Hawaiʻi Fire Department reminds all motorists to monitor weather conditions and updates from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense and comply with all warnings and road closures.