Outer Banks drivers nearly swept off NC 12 as surprise wave wipes out dunes; pickup driver, other cars OK: NCDOT

RODANTHE, N.C. (WNCN) — During the drama and nail-biting of a nor’easter hitting the Outer Banks this weekend, one pickup truck driver caught the attention of the internet on Sunday when the vehicle was caught on an NCDOT camera seemingly wiped out by N.C. 12 flooding.

Many folks were focused on the threat of additional homes falling into the sea as high tide approached Buxton on Hatteras Island on Sunday afternoon. One home, a large green house with mangled decks, was of particular interest as it appeared on its last legs Sunday morning.

Elsewhere, the flooding along the Outer Banks worsened with additional segments of N.C. 12 flooded on Sunday as dunes were wiped out by rising waves from the nor’easter.

On Sunday alone, N.C. 12 was closed by overwash on Pea Island between the Marc Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe. To the south, Sunday brought the new closure of N.C. 12 by ocean flooding on Cedar Island.

But, one image caught the attention of hundreds on social media — the driver of a white truck was seen by an NCDOT camera swamped by waves along the N.C. 12 segment on Pea Island. The image was posted on the NCDOT N.C. 12 Facebook page and on CBS17.com — among other media outlets.

Many folks wanted to find out what became of the driver — and some were upset, wrongly accusing the driver of entering a flooded, closed road.

The NCDOT says the driver was on the road when N.C. was still open — and just as a wave took out the dunes, washing across the road. A few other drivers were also caught in the same wave and situation but they were not seen on camera, according to the NCDOT.

The driver of the white pickup truck was caught on camera along N.C. 12 at an unfortunate moment — appearing to be wiped out by waves. But, he “never was stuck,” an NCDOT official said.

The pickup truck driver was on the road right when the waves hit.

“It was at that very time when the dune was breached,” Jamie Kritzer, assistant director of NCDOT communications, told CBS 17.

Kritzer said the pickup driver was “able to floor it” and power through the rising water, safely making it to higher ground.

And, the pickup truck driver was not alone, Kritzer said.

“A dune breached there and a few cars got in the same jam,” he said. “They made it through.”

Moments after that, the NCDOT closed the road.

Still, NCDOT officials wanted to point out that other drivers should not try to cross water-covered roads — just because a few N.C. 12 motorists were lucky.

“It takes a foot of water to move a car — we want everyone to be careful,” Kritzer said.