NewsPalm Beach CountyRegion S Palm Beach CountyBoca Raton

Actions

Cars stuck as West Boca neighborhood floods

Posted at 7:05 AM, Jun 07, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-07 19:51:55-04

At least six drivers stranded their cars Wednesday after torrential rain flooded a street in west Boca Raton.

Rain covered Boca Chase Drive in more than one foot of water at Waterberry Drive, near the Sweetwater neighborhood.

RELATED: Water managers take flood protection measures

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue assisted drivers Tuesday night when their cars got stuck in the high water at the same spot.

Some drivers pushed their vehicles home because tow trucks were so busy.

RELATED: High water causes headaches in suburban Boynton Beach

As people woke up and tried to leave their neighborhood, some powered through the flooded area while others turned around.

"Kind of surprised to see how flooded the road was here," said Randy Kirshbaum. "I actually thought I'd be able to get through. Unfortunately, not realizing that the grass area is soaked as well, the car just sank right down.

Kirshbaum said he was told it would be at least two hours before a tow truck could arrive.

County Engineer George Webb said Boca Chase Drive is a county-owned road. But he explained when developers built along the road, they agreed the drains on their private streets would also serve the county’s Boca Chase Drive.

After days of steady rain and reports of a broken drainage pump in one community, the road looks more like a river.

Gary Lukich is president of Waterberry Homeowners Association tucked near Boca Chase Drive, west of State Road 7.

He has one message to neighbors: “When you see water like this, unless you absolutely have to go through it, there is no sense ruining your car or your life.”

More deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm-related hazard, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Safety experts urge drivers to turn around if they approach high water.