Crime & Safety

Roads Closed, High Water Continues to Trap Drivers

Rising waters in Potomac continue to trap drivers through Thursday evening.

Update, 7:55 p.m.: Incidents of stranded drivers continue to rise as rain continues to fall in Potomac.

"We've had probably seven or eight rescues from autos in [the Potomac] area," said Assistant Chief Scott Graham of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Graham could not provide further details at the time.

Authorities urge drivers to use extreme caution when driving during the storm. "Never drive through any standing or flowing water," said Captain Oscar Garcia of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue. "There's no way to know how deep the water is."

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Rather than attempting to cross flooded roadways, drivers should turn around and take a safer route.

As of 7:45 p.m. Thursday, the following roads have been closed by the Department of Transportation due to high water:

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  • Beach Drive between Knowles Avenue and Stoneybrook Road 
  • Beach Drive between East-West Hwy. (MD.410) and  Porter Street N.W.
  • Laytonsville Road (MD.108) before Rocky Road.
  • 25400 Block of Old Hundred Road (MD.109).
  • Bradley Boulevard (MD.191) between Seven Locks Road and Kentsdale Road.
  • Kendale Road between Kentsdale Road and Bradley Boulevard (MD.191)
  • Game Preserve Road at Frederick Road (MD 355).
  • Riffleford Road between Darnestown Road (MD.28) and Germantown Rd. (MD.118).
  • Warfield Road between Goshen Road
  • Goshen Road between Plum Creek Lane and Warfield Road

Update, 6:10 p.m.: The following roads have been closed by the Department of Transportation due to high water:

  • Beach Drive between Knowles Avenue and Stoneybrook Road.
  • Beach Drive between East-West Hwy. (MD.410) and  Porter Street N.W.
  • Laytonsville Road (MD.108) is closed before Rocky Road.
  • 25400 Block of Old Hundred Road (MD.109).
  • Bradley Boulevard (MD.191) between Seven Locks Rd. and Kentsdale Road.
  • Kendale Road between Kentsdale Road and Bradley Boulevard (MD.191)
  • Game Preserve Road at Frederick Road (MD 355).

Update, 5:45 p.m.: The two stranded drivers have been rescued, according to Captain Oscar Garcia of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.

An adult female was driving home from the store when she lost control of her vehicle and stalled out at Bradley Boulevard and Mercy Hollow Lane. A fire truck responding to reports of a house fire was first on the scene and requested backup from a swift water rescue team around 1:44 p.m.

During the rescue, the victim's car was picked up and wedged into a tree. After being retrieved from the car, around 3:20 p.m., the woman was transported to a local hospital to treat non-life threatening injuries. According to Captain Garcia, she had been exposed to a lot of water and was very cold, but had no obvious injuries as a result of the car getting wedged into a tree.

A second incident involved an adult female stranded on Kentsdale Drive. The victim has been retrieved and was evaluated on the scene. She was not sent to the hospital.

Original story: Rising flood waters left three vehicles stranded in Potomac prior to 2 p.m. Thursday, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.

Rescue workers are on the scene assisting drivers from two separate incidents at Mercy Hollow Lane and Bradley Boulevard and on the 300 block of Kentsdale Drive in Potomac. Both incidents involve one vehicle and one driver, according to Captain Oscar Garcia of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.

The third incident involved a car abandoned on River Road, south of Falls Road.

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation has closed the following roads due to rising water:

  • Bradley Boulevard between River Road and Kentsdale Road
  • Kentdale Road between Kentsdale Road and Bradley Boulevard

Police presence has been requested at Newbridge Road near Maryknoll.


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