Louisiana Man Saves Driver from Submerged Truck on Live TV During Hurricane Francine

In a dramatic rescue caught live on television, a Louisiana man saved a driver trapped in a submerged truck during Hurricane Francine on Wednesday night (Sep. 11). The incident occurred around 8:45 p.m. at the Canal Street Underpass in New Orleans, where flash flooding created life-threatening conditions as the storm swept through the area.

The driver, who had driven around barricades into the flooded underpass, became trapped as his pickup truck was quickly overtaken by water. WDSU reporter Jonah Gilmore, who was on the scene for a live report, spotted the unfolding emergency and flagged down a nearby police officer.

Miles Crawford, a New Orleans resident and ER nurse, happened to be in the vicinity when he noticed the commotion on TV. Recognizing the danger, Crawford sprang into action. "I was just watching on TV, and I saw the cop car there, and I saw [the reporter] with the red jacket. I was just kind of interested in what was going on," Crawford recalled in an interview with WDSU.

Realizing that a man was trapped inside the submerged truck, Crawford quickly ran back to his home to retrieve a hammer. He then raced to the scene, where he used the tool to break the truck's window and pull the driver to safety.

Crawford credited his calm demeanor during the rescue to his experience as an ER nurse. "I’m used to high stress, high-level situations on a daily basis," he said, reflecting on his quick-thinking actions that ultimately saved a life.

The heroic rescue was praised widely on social media, with WDSU New Orleans tweeting: “INCREDIBLE RESCUE: With just seconds to spare, a Good Samaritan rescued a man who drove into flood waters at the Canal Underpass, saving his life.”

Hurricane Francine has brought severe flooding and dangerous conditions to New Orleans and much of Southeastern Louisiana, prompting officials to urge residents to heed safety warnings and avoid flooded roadways.