Watch GA Crews Rescue Two in Car Submerged by Flash Flood

Oct. 12, 2020
Gwinnett County firefighters also responded to a train derailment and hazardous materials incident in Lilburn caused by Hurricane Delta's heavy rains that injured two railroad workers.

Georgia firefighters and swift water technicians rescued two people trapped in a car submerged in flash flood waters caused by Hurricane Delta early Sunday. The storm's heavy rains also caused a train derailment that injured two railroad workers and sparked a fire involving hazardous materials, forcing a half-mile evacuation of the area.

Gwinnett County crews responded to the submerged car in Lilburn shortly after midnight, according to the department. Raw video captured firefighters working to free two individuals from their vehicle as fast-moving flood waters rushed around them.

The car's occupants were unharmed in the incident.

Later, crews were at the scene of a CSX train derailment that happened shortly after 1:30 a.m., the department said. The train was made up of around 170 railroad cars—including three locomotives—and a fire broke out involving hazardous materials.  

The county's hazmat team had difficulty with spill control measures because of a rain-swollen creek, and a half-mile area around the derailment as evacuated.

Two CSX employees were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Crews were able to get the fire and hazmat incident under control by about 5:30 a.m., according to the department.