News Summary
A man drowned after his vehicle became submerged in rapidly rising water beneath the I-635 bridge during a severe thunderstorm in Dallas. Despite the swift response from Dallas Fire-Rescue, attempts to rescue the individual were unsuccessful due to strong currents. Meanwhile, the area experienced significant rainfall and flash flood warnings. Community members mourn the loss, and officials urge residents to prioritize safety during severe weather conditions.
Dallas — A tragic incident occurred early Wednesday morning when a man died after his vehicle became submerged in rapidly rising water during heavy rain. The vehicle was trapped beneath the Interstate 635 bridge in the 12900 block of Park Central Drive.
Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR) received reports just after midnight from a 911 caller informing them of a vehicle stranded in high water. First responders from DFR and Dallas police rapidly arrived at the scene, including members of the swift water rescue team. Upon arrival, they found two vehicles submerged in water that was rising quickly.
First responders managed to assist two occupants from one vehicle to safety. Unfortunately, the other vehicle was completely submerged by the time help arrived. Despite immediate attempts by DFR’s swift water rescue team to conduct a rescue, the first rescue boat capsized due to a strong current, throwing team members into the water. Fortunately, they exited the water safely, assisted by personal flotation devices.
A second rescue boat also faced difficulties in approaching the submerged vehicle due to the strong currents. After assessing the situation, DFR Command made the decision to wait for water levels to subside before continuing with their search efforts. Once the water levels decreased, the search team was able to locate the occupant of the submerged vehicle, an adult male, who was unfortunately pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the deceased has not been released at this time.
At the time of the incident, Dallas County was under a severe thunderstorm watch, which began Tuesday night and extended into early Wednesday morning. During this storm, significant rainfall was recorded, with some areas experiencing more than four inches of rain overnight. Furthermore, the area was under a flash flood warning, contributing to the hazardous conditions that affected multiple vehicles, leaving them stranded. DFR reported responding to at least five water rescues as a result of the flooding that occurred.
Flooding was so severe in certain sections that parts of I-35 East were reported underwater, leaving vehicles stranded up to their windows. Flash flood warnings, issued by the National Weather Service, were active until around 3 a.m. Wednesday. Although isolated tornado warnings were issued in some surrounding counties, no tornadoes or severe weather damage were confirmed.
The city of Dallas has operational flood warning systems that were functioning during the heavy rainfall. The location of the incident at I-635 and Park Central Drive is particularly known for flooding during heavy rain events. Past evaluations of the area determined there was no recommendation for floodgates, which may have exacerbated the flooding situation.
Community response to the incident has been somber, with a local church near the site expressing grief and offering prayers for the deceased’s family. DFR officials emphasized the critical importance of avoiding flooded roads and exercising caution while driving during severe weather conditions.
As a result of the flooding, crews continued clean-up efforts throughout the morning, which included removing debris, mud, and uprooted trees washed onto service roads and underpasses. Additionally, several signs along the roads had to be repaired due to damage caused by the flooding.
The community remains in mourning for the loss of life while officials remind residents to stay alert during adverse weather conditions and to prioritize safety in such situations.
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Additional Resources
- Fox 4 News: Heavy Rains Bring Major Flooding to Dallas
- Wikipedia: Flood
- NBC DFW: One Dead After Flash Flooding in Dallas
- Google Search: Dallas flooding
- Dallas News: Man Dies After Vehicle Submerged
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Weather
- Fox Weather: Dallas Texas Flooding Death Early June 2025
- Google News: Dallas flash flood
