Two individuals rescued after being swept into Little Flat Creek in Columbia

Maury County Fire Department was dispatched to rural Rally Hill Road in Columbia on Wednesday night to aid two individuals trapped in a car in a rising creek.

When Little Flat Creek poured into the roadway during a heavy rain, the vehicle transporting the victims was suddenly swept downstream as the volunteer fire department was called to the scene at 7:34 p.m.

"It was a very dangerous incident as the creek had become a rushing river," said Savannah Maddison, a public information officer with the Maury County Fire Department.

Swift water rescue teams from Franklin Fire Department participated in a several hours-long rescue, along with first responders from Maury, Columbia and Spring Hill fire departments.

"With the freezing rain and cold, the elements were really against them," Maddison said.

Together, the rescuers used boats and ropes to keep the rescue team safe, while recovering the two stranded motorists trapped 100 yards downstream from the roadway.

"Departments on scene combined resources and manpower in dangerous conditions to perform a successful rescue. Both victims were transported and treated for hypothermia," Maury County Fire Department announced on social media.

"Personnel battled near freezing temperatures, rising swift water and cold rain, while smoothly conducting the rescue operation."

Several firefighters and a deputy from the Maury County Sheriff's Department were treated on the scene for hypothermia.

Maury Regional EMS and Williamson County EMS dispatched four ambulances to treat the firefighters and the victims.

"What we saw was a display of the department members working together," Maddison said.

On Wednesday night, temperatures dipped to near freezing, creating wet, slick roads across Middle Tennessee.

Following the rescue, the Maury County Fire Department called on drivers to stay away from flooded roadways.

"We recommend vehicles not cross moving water," said Richard Schatz, a District 1 chief with MCFD. "Turn around, don't drown. There is just no way to know how deep the water is. It just takes a couple inches of moving water to move a vehicle."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Two individuals rescued after being swept into Little Flat Creek in Columbia