Valentine’s Day flood victim speaks out after escaping trapped car

Anna Dang’s car got stuck in floodwaters rushing across Cook Street at the wash during the record storm that hit the valley in February. Dramatic video shows Dang abandoning the car and running through the currents to safety, before it washed away.

She says was lucky to get out.

” I just ran out just trying to make it alive, ” Dang said. ” Don’t get washed away. ”

She said she first got stuck when debris rushed into the road.

” I jumped out of the car, I checked on that piece of wood under my car and I tried to pull it out. I couldn’t, ” Dang said.

At one point, she is seen tripping and falling in the rushing water.

” So scary — that moment I fell I said life or death, ” Dang said. ” Get up and go. ”

Chuck Mazet , assistant principal of Palm Desert High School, was directing traffic on Cook St. when Dang was nearly swept away.

” She did slip. She was walking towards and she fell once and that was a concern because I’m there trying to hold the kids back but I was going to have to go in, ” Mazet said.

He said the water was rising quickly and only took minutes to get out of control.

” Within a minute the water had risen 4 -5 inches at least, ” he said. ” I was ankle deep in water. ”

” I’m very lucky to be alive, ” Dang said. ” I just went home, i just hugged my children. ” car is totaled. It ended up on the driving range at Indian Wells Golf Resort, almost 2 miles down the wash from Cook St. Inside, she says her kids’ stroller and car seat were destroyed.

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