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It’s that time of year when videos of motorists driving in roofhigh flood waters go viral.
Drivers may think they’re invincible, but each flooding season proves to be a cautionary tale. Just last month, a 22-year-old man drove around road closure signs at Pleasant Grove Boulevard during roadway flooding. As he was traveling at an unknown speed, according to California Highway Patrol, he struck standing water and his Camaro overturned, resting on its roof in a drainage ditch. The driver died.
On Thursday night, a car crashed on Ostrom Road after a road closure sign had blown down. Luckily, no one was injured.
Yuba-sutter CHP public information officer Jodie Beck said it’s important for drivers to stay cautious, especially when so many Yuba-sutter roadways are prone to flooding.
“Even if we don’t have road signs up, drive cautiously,” Beck said Friday. “If you encounter water, let someone know so we can put signs out.”
All roads to the Sutter Bypass are closed and Sutter County has another dozen roads closed. To keep an eye on those closures, visit: https:// tinyurl.com/hecqass. For a look at where to get sandbags in Sutter County, visit: https://tinyurl. com/y4l3sjpt.
For closures in Yuba County, check www.yuba.org. For information on sandbag locations in Yuba County, visit: https://tinyurl. com/y5pjrsg9. You can also sign up for Codered Alerts during emergencies at both county websites, www.bepreparedsutter.org and www. Bepreparedyuba.org. Rachel Rosenbaum rrosenbaum@ appeal democrat.com
Marysville man still missing
It’s been more than a month since Kevin Gibbs, 31, was last seen and in contact with family and friends.
He was last seen at the Marysville Dollar Tree on B Street on Saturday morning, Jan. 12, and reportedly sent a text message to a friend that night and had been fishing with his father and a friend the day before at Riverfront Park.
Those who know him best said it’s uncharacteristic for him to go this long without communication: his Facebook page was deactivated Jan. 12 and since then phone calls to him are sent straight to voicemail.
Gibbs’ father said his son has never gone missing like this before, and he’s worried because almost all of his belongings remain at his apartment, which a friend discovered was unlocked a week after Gibbs was last seen. Gibbs has not shown up at his job at Jeld-wen, a window and door supplier in Rocklin.
Gibbs may have gone on a solo fishing outing – a backpack, cooler and some fishing poles were the only items that appeared missing, his father said. Also, his car has not been found: a dark blue 2002 Ford Focus ZTS with the license plate 4YUR927. He is known to fish at Brophy Road, Riverfront Park, Beercan Beach and both the Feather and Yuba rivers.
Anyone who may have seen Kevin Gibbs or his vehicle is encouraged to call the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office at 749-7777 or the Marysville Police Department at 749-3900.
This weekly column is a catch-all for public safety topics. If there is something you think we should include, or if you have questions you would like us to pose to law enforcement officials, contact me by email at rrosenbaum@ appealdemocrat.com or call 749-4771.