A man who found himself caught in a flooded low-water crossing on County Road 266, the Old Bastrop Highway, was rescued early this morning by the Hays County Sheriff's Office and the South Hays Fire Department. PHOTO by ARCHIS GRUBH

A flood gauge on the Old Bastrop Highway showed levels of about three feet when this photo was taken after daybreak this morning. Overnight showers dumped 5 to 9 inches of rain on the San Marcos area early Jan. 25. PHOTO by ARCHIS GRUBH

STAFF REPORT

First responders rescued two drivers — one with three children in the car — from flooded low-water crossings early this morning as heavy rains swamped area roadways.

At about 5:30 a.m., the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and the South Hays Fire Department responded to a 911 call from a man whose vehicle had stalled in a low-water crossing on County Road 266 (the Old Bastrop Highway) near Texas 123 in San Marcos.

Less than a half-hour later, at about 5:48 a.m., the sheriff’s office and the Chishold Trail Fire Rescue responded to a call from a woman and three children caught in a low-water crossing at Heidenrich Lane near Kyle.

Authorities aren’t sure yet if the drivers ignored signs closing the crossings or if the roads were still opened when the drivers tried to cross. The sherif’s office is reminding residents not to try to drive across water that covers a roadway, no matter how shallow it might look.