Dallas To Replace Signage Along Lake Following Narrow Rescue
ROCKWALL (CBSDFW.COM) – The city of Dallas vowed to place new warning signs near a public boat ramp on Lake Ray Hubbard after two women accidentally drove a Honda Civic into the water and had to be rescued.
The women –– cousins who are students from Vietnam –– told officers they thought the road they were on led to a freeway and not water.
The ramp is at Elgin B. Robertson Park, which is owned by the city of Dallas, but Rockwall County Sheriff's deputies routinely patrol the area.
Deputy Keven Rowen happened to be patrolling the park early Saturday morning when he spotted the car submerged in the water with the taillights out.
Rowen called for backup, then jumped into action. He walked into the water just the top of the car was sinking quickly.
He broke the window, allowing the women to escape, and then carried them to safety.
The question is, how did the women end up in the lake?
Deputies say it's easier than most people think.
"It's something that happens a few times a year," said Lt. Dave Davis of the Rockwall County Sheriff's Department. "It's kind of tricky getting in and out of it and if you get kind of lost out here, you can certainly make a mistake driving down one of these ramps thinking it's a ramp to get back on the freeway."
The area is poorly lit and the only signs are low to the ground. Today the city of Dallas promised to launch a new initiative to enhance visibility in the area.
City spokesman Frank Librio promised to replace existing signage, add new reflective signs, install pavement markings, install road bumps near the boat ramps and install "barricades as where necessary."
"The enhancements that are determined to be most appropriate will be implemented as soon as possible," he continued.
"The main thing is night time and lack of lighting," Davis said. "The lighting would be a tremendous help especially in these boat dock areas, boat launching areas."
