Crime & Safety
Police: Traffic Safety Officer Saves Stranded Motorist in Lemont
Law enforcement officials reported only minor flooding and road closures in Lemont after heavy rain slammed the Chicago area Thursday morning.
A Lemont traffic safety officer was taken to the hospital Thursday morning after saving a motorist stranded in flood water.
Lemont Police Chief Kevin Shaughnessy said the young Emergency Management officer was directing traffic at 135th Street and Archer Avenue when a driver attempted to avoid standing water and was instead pulled by the current.
When the driver's car became halfway submerged in flood water, the officer ran to the vehicle and brought the man to safety.
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After the rescue, the officer was taken to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox to be treated for exposure. He was later released.
"Unfortunately the young man began having difficulty after being in the cold water," Shaughnessy said in a message. "He's going to be fine. It's probably exposure due to the rain and cool temperature."
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Despite widespread flooding and road closures in the Chicago area, no major incidents were reported in Lemont as of 11:30 a.m.
Shaughnessy said the biggest issue in Lemont has been on New Avenue, just west of Lemont, which was impassable due to flooding. Closures were also reported at 135th Street and Archer Avenue, and Main Street at Fourth Street.
Lemont Fire Chief Carl Churulo said Lemont has been lucky so far.
"It's been relatively quiet here in town," Churulo said. "No major incidents to report."
Churulo said his team has been busy providing support to nearby fire districts that are handling floods and evacuations. A Lemont fire boat was dispatched to Hillside around 11 a.m., he said.
Schools remain open in Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A and Lemont High School District 210.
Share your photos of Thursday's flooding with Patch readers in our Storm Gallery. To report road closures or power outages, email Local Editor Amanda Luevano at amanda@patch.com.
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