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The Dallas-Fort Worth area experienced persistent rainfall on Saturday, keeping first responders on their toes.
In Arlington, Michael Merrell was startled by a loud noise around 8:30 a.m. “We heard a loud thunderclap from the storm, and it felt very close,” he recounted. “The house shook slightly.” They suspect that lightning struck their electrical box or nearby, igniting a fire that engulfed their garage. Merrell described the damage as requiring a complete electrical rebuild, with the panels fried and burnt.
Thunderstorms, accompanied by relentless rain, caused road closures throughout the metroplex, including a section of Old Granbury Road in Fort Worth. The city’s stormwater team reported responding to 20 locations as a precaution.
Drivers in Dallas, Colleyville, and Garland encountered road closures due to flooding. Video footage captured water entering the Perot Museum’s garage after a storm drain broke.
Matt Zavadsky, spokesperson for MedStar, which provides EMS services to Fort Worth and surrounding cities, remarked on the challenging day for area first responders. By late Saturday afternoon, MedStar had responded to 43 crashes, with 23 resulting in hospital transports. Zavadsky noted a significant increase compared to the previous Saturday’s numbers.
One of the crashes involved three cars at East Berry Street and Yuma Drive, with three individuals hospitalized and one fatality reported. Fort Worth Police indicated it was too early to determine if weather played a role in the accident.
Zavadsky attributed the surge in crashes to high speeds, wet roads, and pooling water, leading to hydroplaning. He highlighted that the increase in crashes was unusual, likely exacerbated by several hours of continuous rain, resulting in significant ponding on roadways.
Overall, the elevated number of incidents surpassed MedStar’s typical experience during rain events, indicating a heightened risk of accidents due to hazardous road conditions.