A few accidents as rain drenches area

Rainy weather led to full storm drains, flooded roads and bridges and a few traffic accidents Thursday.

A man and his family attempting to drive through a ford on Burchs Creek Road ended up needing rescuing Thursday.

A ford is a shallow point in a river or stream where people, animals or vehicles can cross by wading or driving through the water.

But they didn’t realize how deep the water was and, when they were partway across, the engine stopped, Hopwood said.

Hopwood said the crossing is usually no problem.

“That’s a state-maintained road,” he said. “It’s a state-maintained ford of that creek.”

No one was injured.

The weather also contributed to an accident that snarled rush-hour traffic on U.S. 29 southbound in Greene County.

A car went off the road to avoid an accident and ended up rolling and striking another vehicle twice, said Virginia State Police Senior Trooper C.E. Birckhead.

The accident happened during morning rush hour near 29’s intersection with Cedar Grove Road.

Karen Raleigh, of Ruckersville, was driving a Toyota FJ Cruiser and went off the road to avoid hitting traffic, Birckhead said.

The Toyota hit a ditch and an embankment and rolled, hitting a Mitsubishi Lancer twice, he said.

The drivers of both cars were taken to the hospital, he said.

Raleigh has been charged with following too closely.