Picture: Corvallis Police Department

Whatever your stance on climate change and global warming, even the most hardcore of skeptics must admit that the U.S. has been experiencing some wacky weather as of late. From freak October snow storms to year-long droughts to sudden, rapid flooding, Mother Nature seems pretty cranky these days. Recent heavy rainfall in Oregon sent many rivers and streams flooding over their banks, causing delays and property damage across the state.

The journalists over at KVAL News reported that one victim of the recent flooding was a 35-year-old woman who drove her Ford Mustang into four feet of water, and had to be rescued by the Corvallis Police Department.

Flood damage on a car is especially devastating, essentially ruining all the electronic bits and leaving owners with little more than expensive paper weights. It is impossible for most people to judge the depths of flood waters, so the best advice is always to not drive in the damn water. Words of wisdom, to be sure, though not everybody knows better.

The unnamed driver drove her yellow Mustang into water that quickly went above the door handles. At that point, the swift waters carried the car 300 feet out into the middle of a flooded field. The woman had to climb on top of the car to and await rescue from local police (who took the time to snap the above photograph.) This driver was lucky to escape alive, and hopefully a few of you will learn from her example; don’t drive into flood waters. She lived; you might not.