‘It can get taken away in an instant’: Man shares warning after floods total his car

COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. (WRIC) -- Although floodwaters have receded, the impact of last weekend’s severe flash flooding is still being felt across Colonial Heights.

One driver found himself trapped under a bridge as water rushed into his car.

Flood waters in Colonial Heights

T-Ron Richardson was on his way home from church on Sunday, July 13, when his car started floating on the Boulevard near Jefferson Davis Highway, not far from the Kroger.

What he thought was a puddle turned into a life-threatening situation, “I’m going to drive through it, I’ll be good,” he said. “That did not happen. As soon as the car turned off, I said, ‘oh, it’s probably over for this car.’”

Richardson said he was the first of several drivers who ended up stuck under the bridge after entering the flooded area.

Floodwaters in the Colonial Heights region

Once the water started rising, it reached nearly up to his chest inside the car. At six-foot-five, he managed to stay calm and force the door open from the inside, however he knows not everyone would be able to do the same.

“Luckily, I work out, so I’m strong enough to push the door and get it open,” he said, “but most people in that situation could have panicked.”

A tow truck eventually pulled his BMW out of the water, but the car was declared totaled.

“We took the car to BMW and they pretty much said it was done,” Richardson said.

Now, he’s urging others not to make the same mistake. He said he ignored his instincts and his mother’s warning just minutes before the incident.

“I had just got off the phone with my mom, and she said, ‘If it gets too bad, pull over,’” he said, “and I’m looking, I’m like, ‘Ok, it’s just a little puddle of water.’”

Richardson said he’s sharing his story to help others avoid the same situation.

“It’s better to be safe than sorry in every single situation,” he said. “Don’t try to drive through water. If you see a flash flood warning, it’s best to probably just stay at the house, and if you do have to drive, be extremely cautious.”

Despite the loss of his car, Richardson said he’s grateful to have walked away safely and is reminding others not to take anything for granted.

“Be careful and be grateful for what you have,” he said, “because in an instant, it can get taken away.”

Richardson said he is fortunate to have car insurance and hopes his message reaches others before they find themselves in a similar situation.