Braving flooded streets in driving rain and pitch darkness three police constables used the screams of two women to locate and save them from possibly drowning in rising water at Hordley Crossing in Golden Grove, St Thomas, early Monday morning.

Constables Jason Blount, Odane Watson and Kavin Morrison from the Golden Grove Police Station are being hailed as heroes by a man, who gave his name only as Derron, and who said he lives close to where the near tragedy occurred.

“I don’t know what would have happened to the girls if the policemen never came, because the water current heavy, and when I came this morning the entire car was under water,” he said.

Constable Blount spoke with the Jamaica Observer hours after the ordeal, which he described as frightening.

“About minutes after 3:00 in the morning we received a call from police emergency that two females drove off the road while it was raining very heavily in this area, and this area is known for flooding when rain falls hard,” Constable Blount related.

“On the way from Golden Grove we had to go through a lot of water. We could hardly see because the road was dark and it was just so much water, so when we were on a section of the roadway we could hear female voices screaming, but we could not see where the screaming was coming from because the water was too high,” he said.

Blount explained that he had to use the vehicle’s flashing lights while traversing deep waters to assist in locating the women. He and Constable Watson followed the screams, and as they approached the location they saw two women crying for help from the top of a car that had gone off-road and was almost submerged.

“We had to drive out of the water and park further out at a section where the police vehicle could be parked out of the water and then walk back to where the ladies were. At one point the water was about chest high and I had to swim across to help the two women. They couldn’t swim, and luckily I could swim so I struggled and guided them across to an area, one by one, where they were able to stand with Constable Watson,” he said.

Blount expressed gratitude to Constable Morrison for his assistance, pointing out that although he was off-duty he joined the rescue mission after seeing the flashing lights on the police vehicle as he was close to the scene.

He said that the car could have sunk further into the water due to its location but one section was stuck, preventing it from going deeper. That, Blount said, allowed the two women to climb atop the car.

Blount urged residents to avoid any attempt to pass Hordley Crossing when it is flooded because of the strength and depth of the water.

Derron agreed, pointing out that flooding is a regular occurrence at Hordley Crossing once there is heavy rain in the area.

“It’s the norm when rain fall over here. Sometimes water on the road for about three days straight. They have to do something but I don’t know if just fixing the road alone can actually solve this,” he said.

He explained that whenever there is heavy rain the Plantain Garden River goes in spate sending water rushing onto the road. He also said that there have been times when there has been flooding without rainfall due to the river’s proximity to the road.