Heavy rain triggers road closures, rescues in Inland Empire

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) -- Rushing water in the Inland Empire stranded motorists and closed roadways across the area amid heavy rains Tuesday.

Lytle Creek swelled with more water than it's seen in around 10 months.

One man who attempted to pass over the creek in a van ended up stranded right in the middle, with a deluge on all sides. The man waited in the beleaguered vehicle until swift water rescuers from the San Bernardino County Fire Department arrived.

"I've seen it like that before and made it through plenty of times," said the van's driver, Brett Christiansen. "I think I just got caught on a bigger rock and then it was stuck, so I was there for about an hour and a half."

Mike O'Bier of the San Bernardino County Fire Department said most people underestimate the velocity of floodwaters. O'Bier said the waters in San Bernardino were capable of "moving vehicles, large trucks, commercial-sized vehicles at times."

Firefighters in San Bernardino County say they have conducted around five rescues throughout the day Tuesday. Some of the rescues were of homeless people who were camped out in the river bottom when the rains hit.

Several roads in the area were closed due to mudslides, including Highway 138 on both sides of the 15 Freeway at several junctures.

MORE: Evacuations ordered in SoCal burn areas amid flood warnings

In Riverside County, mandatory evacuations were issued in the early evening hours for the Canyon Fire burn area in Corona as flash flooding brought an imminent threat of mudslides.

"Do not delay evacuating until the rain becomes severe. Debris flows can occur without any notice, and evacuation routes can quickly become impassable due to mud and debris or flooding," Corona officials said in a press release.