Woman and her dog missing after mudflows slam parts of San Bernardino County
Rescuers have been searching for a woman and her dog after mudflows closed off several roads in San Bernardino County, including the eastbound Pacific Highway and northbound U.S. 395.
The mudflows hit the westbound lanes of Pacific Highway around 5 a.m. today. A woman was rescued from her vehicle just east of the highway in the 200 block of West Main, and her dog was found in a ditch. Both were taken to a hospital.
A resident who lives in the 200 block of West Main said he was woken up by rushing water coming up against his car door and his front door after he saw mudflows.
A woman was rescued from her car after mudflows closed off several roads in San Bernardino County
“I just got out of bed, and I just saw it all hit the road,” said resident Scott Robinson. “I couldn’t see a thing and then I just saw the headlights pass by. All of that was just a blur.”
Robinson said water was pouring from the road into his garage.
Several other residents said they also woke up to the heavy rains.
“I came in my car and saw the mud flowing down the street, and when I tried to get out of my car I had to put water in it to wet it down,” said resident Don Ritchie.
San Bernardino County firefighters were helping to find out how the mudflow affected roadways.
The mudflow closed the westbound lanes of Pacific Highway near the 600 block of East Loomis Street, forcing motorists out of the eastbound lanes, where they had been stopped for a toll booth and traffic control devices.
San Bernardino County Fire spokesman Steve Woods said the westbound lanes were closed to all traffic after multiple mudflows affected the southbound and northbound lanes of Pacific Highway.
“It appears to be a large mudslide affecting multiple lanes on the northbound side of Pacific Highway,” he said.
Meanwhile, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) was checking westbound lanes of U.S. 395, which are also closed at the intersection with Pacific Highway.
All westbound lanes of U.S. 395 will remain closed until further notice, CHP officials said.
“One lane of traffic is open at the end of the road and the other lane is closed,” said CHP