Women caught in Albany flooding rescued

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

A sudden downpour left two women trapped in the floodwaters Tuesday evening, and two officers were credited with taking them to safety.

The two Albany officers carried the women to safety near the corner of Hackett Boulevard and Crown Terrace, police said.

Officer Christopher Stiles responded to a call and spotted flooding in the intersection. The officer shut down the intersection and called for another patrol car to ensure that no one entered Hackett from Holland Avenue. Officer Philip Durand then responded, shutting down Hackett.

Then the officers watched as a driver pulled out of a nearby parking lot and into the flooded street. The vehicle came to a stop and started to take on water. Both occupants, women in their 20s, got out and climbed onto the car’s trunk.

The officers each entered the chest-high water and carried the women to dry land. Neither woman knew how to swim. The women were unhurt. One of the women was six months pregnant.

The storm came through just before 6 p.m., dumping as much as 2.9 inches on the city in 25 minutes, according to the National Weather Service. That amount is considered on the high end for what a thunderstorm can produce, a meteorologist said.

The service reported cars were submerged at several locations as the storm sewer system was overwhelmed. Some homes also got water in their basements.

In all, Albany police received 520 calls from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, police said.