By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

ELLIS–The novelty of rain water rushing through Ellis Big Creek was too tempting for five Ellis residents who drove up to the creek to see it and then had to be rescued from their vehicle Wednesday night when it slid into the creek.

Ellis Police Chief Taft Yates said Thursday morning one person was able to climb out of the Toyota SUV before emergency responders arrived on the scene about 10:45 p.m. Wednesday.

“They were looking at Big Creek, about 200 yards east of the dam, got too close to the muddy bank and took a ride into the river,” Yates said.

The Ellis Fire Department rescue squad, Ellis Police Department and Ellis County Sheriff responded, along with some local citizens.

It was still raining as the five people were recovered from the SUV with no injuries, although responders were unable to recover the vehicle.

“Everybody did a good job, especially the rope rescuers with the fire department,” said Yates.

“I told my guys earlier in the day to be on the lookout for this kind of thing.”

Yates reminded drivers “don’t take for granted what you’re seeing. You don’t know how deep the water is or how fast it’s actually moving. It’s doesn’t take much water to move a vehicle off a road. If you see water running across a road, don’t drive through it.”

Yates estimated Ellis received at least another four inches of rain overnight.