A woman and her small child were rescued from a flash flood on Tuesday when their car was overcome with water on Herrin Road off Smartt Station Road.

A passersby reportedly worked to free the woman and her child and get them to safety as officers with the Warren County Sheriff’s Department were arriving.

The Sheriff’s Department says Rich Hollandsworth was the Good Samaritan who helped free the two. The incident occurred around 5 p.m.

Sheriff’s Department Major Jason Walker says the water was about waist deep. The vehicle was able to be pulled from the water after the two were rescued.

Road Superintendent Levie Glenn says heavy rain in a very short period resulted in high water at that spot.

“It really came a flash flood in that little area,” said Glenn. “It doesn’t flood too often in that area, but when you get so much rain so quickly, it gets up there in a hurry.”

Glenn says Highway Department workers placed warning signs when they were notified of the problem and he reminds motorists to beware of high water across roadways.

“Water can fool people and they say 6 to 8 inches is enough to float a small car,” said Glenn. “When you see water across the road, don’t go through it.”

Herrin Road resident J. Earl McClung said he lives in front of that area and the flooding problem has been brought to the attention of county officials in the past.

“The only action has been by the railroad, which did open a plugged culvert about 100 yards up the road three years ago,” said McClung.