Mudslide survivors tell how they ran for their lives
In Southern California, heavy rain unleashed floods that triggered massive mudslides -- cars and trucks -- hundreds of them -- were stuck deep in the mud along highways north of Los Angeles.
Road crews spent the day hauling away the mud and the vehicles, to try get the roads open again.
One mudslide struck during rush-hour, flooding drivers on busy Interstate 5 near Los Angeles.
Hundreds of cars were swamped. The only escape for some was through the flood water. Others climbed on top of their cars.
Further east, trucker Will Nissen captured video of a mudslide in action -- 20 feet of mud and rocks lifted several semis off the highway, including his partner's, who was hauling millions of bees.
"All this stuff started pushing this truck in park, with his foot on the brake without holding it," Nissen said. The truck weighed "about 50,000-53,000 pounds.
Nearly 200 cars and trucks were overwhelmed in less than ten minutes.
Sheriff's search and rescue teams are looking for cars that may have been buried completely
"We're trying to probe down and see if we hit anything metallic or get a dull thud," Deputy John Deitrich said.
Marble-sized hail fell in some areas.
Melissa Nuesca, her son, and the rest of the family had to run for cover as mud filled their car.
"The most terrifying part was when the hill gave out and the road was just gone," Nuesca said. "We thought we were going to get buried alive, in the mud, we just thought it was done. The mud was coming down so fast."
