‘Redneck Rescue’: Texas Man Uses Monster Truck To Save Neighbor From Floodwaters
A Texas man used his monster truck to rescue a neighbor from rising floodwaters Monday, in what neighbors and the media are calling a “Redneck Rescue.”
As WFAA (Dallas) reports, as historic floods ravage the Houston area and other parts of Texas, local resident Cole Geeo’s street in Millsap, in Parker County, began to resemble a lake more than a neighborhood. In particular danger was his neighbor Deborah Wright. As rising waters from the Brazos River crept through town, the first floor of her apartment building was completely flooded, leaving her stranded on the second floor.
Cole Geeo was having none of that. As WFAA reporters’ cameras rolled, Geeo stepped into his tricked-out monster truck — which stands eight feet high — and drove into the floodwaters to rescue his neighbor.
Neighbor Dina Young Gray described the incident perfectly.
“That’s a redneck rescue I do believe. That’s just how Millsap is. We just look out for one another… If this didn’t work, we were going to get a boat.”
Deborah Wright, the woman rescued by the monster truck, and who had to climb a ladder down to get out of her apartment then climb another ladder up to get into the truck, said that she’s used to flooding.
“Well [the water] just came up so quickly. This is not my first rodeo with this.”
Over on the the “Truck Yeah!” section of the automotive website Jalopnik, writer Andrew P. Collins — presumably someone who should be knowledgeable about the ins and outs of monster trucks — points out that Geeo’s ride could more accurately be described as a “swamp buggy.”
“The proportions of Geeo’s Ford pickup make the Mercedes G500 4×4² look sane– get a load of those springs! They’re taller than a human person!”
The Wonderful Mercedes-Benz G500 4×4 Squared Might Be Coming Stateside https://t.co/0gSaz33zgF pic.twitter.com/Htsvxa95fx
— Car News Magazine (@carnewsm) April 14, 2016
Collins also pointed out Geeo’s tricked-out ride is perfect for water rescues.
“The truck also seems to have an inboard braking system; that disc in the middle of the rear axle looks like a brake. That allows for more flexibility on wheel selection and a little weight reduction, not that that matters much when you’re running tractor tires the size of golf carts at each corner.”
Officially, you really shouldn’t drive any land vehicle — even if it’s an eight-foot-tall monster truck — into floodwaters, as a Texas man found out earlier this week. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, also on Monday, a local TV news reporter swam into waist-high waters to rescue a confused driver who had driven into water and was about to drown.
The National Weather Service, via its program “Turn Around, Don’t Drown,” warns drivers not to drive into water — especially if you can’t see the bottom.
“Half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water… too many people continue to drive around the barriers that warn you the road is flooded. A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away a small car, while 2 feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters.”
Still, Geeo’s monster truck was able to pull off the redneck rescue without any problems, although whether or not his decision to drive into the floodwaters was advisable is a matter of debate. But for neighbor Deborah Wright, Geeo did what he had to do.
“It’s just been an adventurous day.”
Do you believe the Texas “redneck rescue” was a dangerous move?
[Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Metlife]
