MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - A harrowing scene ended in a narrow escape Sunday afternoon after a vehicle was swept into rushing floodwaters on East County Farm Road.

At approximately 1:45 p.m., two occupants attempted to cross a submerged "slab" section of the roadway. Their vehicle quickly became overwhelmed by the current, leaving the pair stranded in the rising water.

Fortunately, both individuals managed to escape the vehicle without injury. First responders from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office provided immediate assistance, allowing the shaken pair to warm up in a deputy’s patrol car while awaiting a medical evaluation. Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services paramedics checked both individuals at the scene and cleared them of any physical harm.

A Stark Warning to Motorists

Local authorities are using this incident to highlight the extreme dangers of seasonal flooding. Even shallow-looking water over a roadway slab can mask a powerful current capable of sweeping a vehicle off the road.

Drivers are urged to avoid any roadway where water is running over the slab. Entering these flooded areas significantly increases the risk of becoming trapped inside a vehicle, which can lead to life-threatening drowning situations.

The emergency response was documented by Capt. Will Holton and Deputy Richard Tidwell, whose photos from the scene illustrate the intensity of the water flow that nearly resulted in a tragedy.