80-year-old man dies trying to drive through flooded North Carolina road

An 80-year-old man died trying to drive through a flooded North Carolina road on Tuesday as the state dealt with a historic rainfall event, according to highway officials.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol received a call about a submerged vehicle after Richard Walton Robinson drove a blue Subaru Crosstrek SUV around stationary Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office vehicles and into high water on NC 211, the highway patrol said in a release.

Officials said the sheriff’s office vehicles were stopped in the road with blue lights on because of flood waters at the Lockwood Folly River Bridge. The road was impassable, authorities said.

The incident happened around 12:17 a.m. in Brunswick County, about 34 miles southwest of Wilmington, the highway patrol said in a news release.

When Robinson drove around the sheriff’s office vehicles, his SUV became fully submerged. A water rescue team showed up and tried to find his vehicle to no avail.

The next day, first responders went back to find the SUV. The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team found the vehicle with Robinson deceased inside. 

Authorities said neither alcohol or speed were factors in the accident. The investigation is ongoing.

The incident came as historic rainfall and "life-threatening" flash flooding hit the North Carolina coast earlier this week. Some coastal towns received more than a foot of rain in the first 12 hours of Monday, the type of deluge that happens once every 200 years on average, according to the National Weather Service's office in Wilmington.

A once-in-200-years event:NC towns get a foot of rain in 12 hours

What to do if you're out and about during a flood

According to Ready NC, floods are one of the most common dangers in the United States. They can happen at any time of the year nearly anywhere in North Carolina.

Floods are typically caused by excess amounts of rain, hurricanes or dam failures.

"Anywhere it rains, it can flood," the agency wrote on its website.

"Flooding is dangerous whether you are in your home, driving or on foot," according to the agency. "Just a few inches of water can knock you off your feet or sweep your car away. Never drive through flooded roadways. Stay away from swollen streams and rivers."

Tips the agency listed include:

• Avoid driving into flooded areas.
• If floodwaters rise around your car, leave the car and move to higher ground if possible.
• Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams, rivers or creeks.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at@SaleenMartin or email her atsdmartin@usatoday.com.