WALKER COUNTY, Texas — Counties north of Houston were drenched with heavy rain Sunday night into Monday morning and several people had to be rescued.
The rain washed away part of FM 2989 near Harmon Creek in Walker County. We talked with two couples who were caught off guard by the 25-foot drop north of Huntsville.
Karissa and Joe Wilkie were driving home overnight when their car fell into the hole.
"You could feel the car just sinking. At that point, he’s like, 'We need to get out," Karissa told us.
Joe said the only way out of the sinking car was through a rear door.
"When I got out of the car and stood on it, it gave way. I fell chest-deep into the water," Joe said. "I saw her on the hood crawling onto a slanted piece of asphalt."
They made it to higher ground just before their car was washed away.
The Wilkies said another couple with a small child also got stuck.
"I ran over to them, you know, and tried to help in whatever way I could. I grabbed their daughter. The husband, he could barely walk. They were beat up really bad," Joe said. "The hole was really deep at that point. We’re all lucky, but they’re lucky they made it out."
The man in the second car was taken to a Houston hospital.
"We’re so thankful we’re here. It could have been way worse," Karissa said.
The Crabb’s Prairie Volunteer Fire Department posted a picture of the damaged road.
TxDOT crews were working to repair FM 2989 but it will be a while before it's safe to drive or even walk on so everyone is advised to avoid the area.
It’s one of several roads in the area still closed because of high water.
The Walker County Office of Emergency Management said there were at least 12 water rescues overnight.
The National Weather Service said the Huntsville area got nearly five inches of rain, while nine to 11 inches fell over the Piney Woods and Brazos Valley areas and near Mont Belvieu.
There were also dangerous weather conditions in Trinity County where several streets were flooded. The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF-1 tornado touched down in the Rock Creek subdivision. One house had its roof blown off and at least two cars were flipped over.