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Delivery driver rescued from roof of van amid rushing flood waters

Authorities are pleading with the public to stay away from rising waters, whether driving or walking.

HABERSHAM COUNTY, Ga. — Authorities in north Georgia are joining the chorus of agencies around the state reminding drivers not to gamble with their lives in rising water - after multiple drivers did just that.

The mnemonic device "Turn Around, don't drown" sums it up pretty well, yet Habersham County Emergency Services appears to have found a few folks who decided to try crossing treacherously deep waters on Thursday.

So the county agency was a bit more insistent on its Facebook page.

"PLEASE....DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH STANDING WATER AT ANY TIME!!!!!!!!," Habersham Emergency Services wrote.

They'd apparently gotten several reports of drivers getting trapped.

One of the cases bringing on that frustration involved what Now Habersham said was an Amazon driver who tried to cross Garrison Drive over Little Mud Creek. The trip was unsuccessful and the driver ended up awaiting rescuers on top of his van.

Water was already above the wheel wells when Now Habersham's Daniel Purcell arrived and captured the rescue in photos and videos.

Crews managed to throw a life jacket to the driver and guide him by rope back to shore. Now Habersham said the vehicle was loaded with packages and that the driver had to be taken to an area hospital for treatment of a dislocated shoulder.

Credit: Daniel Purcell/Now Habersham
Delivery driver rescue on Feb. 6, 2020

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