A Tigard man was rescued from atop his sunken SUV in Forest Grove after he drove into high flood water and got stranded Thursday.

When fire crews responded about 1 p.m. to Southwest Fern Hill Road near Taylor Way, they spotted the SUV leaning in a ditch filled with about three feet of water, according to Forest Grove Fire & Rescue. Because of the depth, they couldn't immediately reach the driver.

The water level rose to about 10 feet and completely engulfed the SUV by the time a rescue boat went 500 yards and reached the 63-year-old driver, the agency said. He was standing on top of the SUV.

The driver was the only one in the SUV and wasn't injured. It's not clear if he went around road closure signs or if they were removed, the fire agency said. His SUV was not immediately retrieved.

The man was cited for driving through a closed roadway. He told authorities he wasn't familiar with roadways in the area.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com
503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey

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