RANDOLPH COUNTY, Ill. – A delivery truck driver stranded in rising water found a safe escape path Tuesday afternoon thanks to a Red Bud police detective.

Red Bud Mayor Susan Harbaugh said heavy rain started falling around 12:45 p.m. and lasted for approximately an hour.

The rain sent a creek out of its banks and onto County Club Drive near Austin Drive.  

That’s where Red Bud Detective Tyler Cleland initially tried to coax a stranded FedEx driver into walking out of the truck on her own.

“Then I realized how bad the water was and how quickly it was rising,” Cleland said.

Another option was requesting help from firefighters, but Cleland found a safe escape path for the driver through the back of the delivery truck.

“I approached from the rear and opened the back door, and she came out,” he said.  “We shut it, and she jumped on my back, and I carried her out.” 

Cleland was responding to another call for a partial roof collapse at the Roselein manufacturing plant. 

Harbaugh said that damage appeared to be isolated to one small section of the roof.

She said the city’s police, fire and utility departments all responded to help if needed.  Harbaugh is grateful for their response, including Cleland’s efforts.

“I don’t like to be in the spotlight,” Cleland said. “We do this all the time, every day and it’s just what we do.” 

He said the delivery driver expressed gratitude for the rescue and continued her route.

“I don’t know how late she’s going to be, but she’s going to get done today,” Cleland concluded.