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Driver ignores warning, gets stuck in north Georgia flooding

Fire officials said the area floods regularly and added that there were barricades to keep the driver out.

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Fire crews were forced to come to the rescue after a man went around barricades and got stranded on top of his truck in rising floodwaters.

Forsyth County Fire Department spokesperson R. Jason Shivers said they were called out to the community of Nicholson around 1:30 p.m. after learning that someone tried to drive through standing water - and failed.

The driver then called 911 for help and climbed on top of his truck to wait for his rescuers.

The area where the victim got stuck, not far from the Etowah River, is known to flood, officials said. Shivers said the 54-year-old driver chose to go into the area anyway and ignore barricades.

Despite the scare, neither the driver nor his rescuers were injured. However, the incident also reiterates a common phrase reiterated during floods - turn around, don't drown. 

It's just the second rescue from the high waters reported in two days. Further north, in Walker County, two hikers were rescued after getting stranded on the wrong side of a rising creek in the Chattahoochee National Forest.

Both rescues come amid heavy rains across Georgia that have caused water to rise in creek and rivers. The rain has also loosened the roots holding many large trees in the area bringing them down on houses and cars.

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