NORFOLK, VA — A flooded roadway in Virginia turned frightening fast when an SUV drove into deep water near a closed underpass and became partially submerged. The moment could have ended badly, but a bystander who was passing through the area jumped in to help the driver reach safety.

The rescue unfolded on Aug. 4, 2026, after the city said two underpasses, Colley Avenue and Monticello Avenue, were shut down because of flooding. Heavy rain was expected to keep worsening conditions for at least another hour, and several feet of water had already collected in the area.

What happened next depended on quick reactions from people who saw the vehicle go in and acted before the situation got worse. One witness, Korbin Thompson, did not hesitate once she realized a driver was in danger.

How Korbin Thompson spotted the danger and rushed over

Thompson, a behavior specialist, was nearby to pick up her daughter from cheerleading practice after finishing a 12-hour work shift. She first thought another vehicle might be having trouble, but then saw an SUV go straight into more than six feet of floodwater.

Seeing the vehicle sink and the situation change quickly, she moved toward it to help guide the driver out. News 3 WTKR reported that Thompson immediately focused on getting the woman to safety before the SUV drifted any farther into the water.

Her response was not polished or planned. It was the kind of instinctive action that comes from seeing someone in trouble and deciding there is no time to wait for someone else to step in.

Two escape routes were considered as the water rose

Thompson and the driver briefly discussed two ways out of the vehicle. One option was for the trapped woman to climb out through the driver’s window, then work her way over the SUV’s hood to reach safety.

The other option was to exit through the passenger door. The driver chose that route, but the rescue became more difficult almost immediately as the SUV began to float away from the people trying to help.

At that point, Thompson held onto a rail and reached toward the vehicle. She nearly fell into the water herself while trying to make the rescue work, but she stayed steady long enough for the driver to get out.

The scene underscored how dangerous flooded roads can become within moments. Even a vehicle that appears to have only entered shallow water can lose traction, drift and trap the people inside before anyone expects it.

Flooded underpasses were already closed before the rescue

City officials had already warned drivers away from the area before the SUV got stuck. On the same day, Norwalk announced the closure of Colley Avenue and Monticello Avenue underpasses because flooding had made them unsafe.

Heavy rain was expected to continue making conditions worse until about 5 p.m., according to the city. That timing matters, because it shows the rescue happened while the weather threat was still active and the water was still rising or unstable.

The underpass closures were meant to keep vehicles from ending up exactly where this SUV did. Even so, one driver was caught in the floodwater, and bystanders were left to react quickly when the car became stranded and partially submerged.

Why floodwater and aging infrastructure can create sudden hazards

Flooding can be especially hazardous when roads, underpasses and drainage systems are already under strain. Water may collect faster than drivers realize, and a vehicle moving into standing water can lose control before the driver has enough time to turn around.

In general, sinkholes and flooding can be linked to erosion beneath roads, aging infrastructure, heavy rainfall or water main breaks. In this case, the exact cause of the dangerous water accumulation was not immediately known, but the city responded by closing the roadway for assessment and repairs.

That kind of closure is meant to prevent more vehicles from entering a risky area. It also gives crews time to determine what happened and whether the road surface, drainage or nearby infrastructure needs attention before the route reopens.

Another submerged SUV in Norfolk showed how fast these incidents unfold

The rescue came only a month after another SUV in Norfolk ended up underwater when a sinkhole opened on an exit ramp. In that case, a woman was trapped in the vehicle after the roadway gave way beneath her.

Tidewater News reported that the SUV was traveling along a busy highway when it suddenly disappeared into the collapsed area. A police officer responded and rescued the woman, underscoring how unpredictable these roadway failures can be once they start.

That earlier incident involved a different hazard, but the danger was similar: a driver had little warning, the roadway failed, and someone had to intervene quickly. Together, the two events show why public warnings and fast responses can make all the difference.

A tired parent became the person who changed the outcome

Thompson’s role in the rescue stands out because it happened at the end of an already long day. She had worked 12 hours, was on her way to pick up her daughter and still chose to step into a dangerous situation without hesitation.

Her actions helped prevent what could have been a much worse outcome for the driver trapped in the SUV. The moment also reflects how often emergencies are resolved not by dramatic planning but by ordinary people who decide to act when they see someone in trouble.

In this case, a closed roadway, a rising flood and a quick-thinking witness all came together in a way that ended safely. The driver got out, the SUV was left behind in the water and Thompson walked away after helping someone through a frightening few minutes.

Real, uplifting stories from across America – GCHS Eagle's Eye.