Two people were killed as flash floods in New York City and New Jersey led to travel warnings on Monday night, following a summer storm that caused flooding in streets and subway systems.
According to ABC News, the two women were in their car when it was swept into the Cedar Brook in Plainfield, New Jersey.
A witness said he could hear one scream, "I don't want to die," as the water flung the car across the road.
Another witness told Eyewitness News that a good Samaritan managed to break one of the car's windows, but was unable to pull either woman out of the vehicle before they were pulled into Cedar Brook.
Firefighters were unable to reach the area in time due to the storm.
The current belief is that the two women remained trapped in their car and drowned.
The names of the two victims have not yet been released as of Tuesday evening.
In Manhattan, videos shared on social media showed flooding at the 28th Street subway station, where passengers were trapped inside a subway car.
“I can't open the doors. It’s not safe,” a subway conductor said, as floodwaters overtook the platform.
"New York City picked up just over 2 inches of rain last night—2.07 inches, to be exact—making it the second wettest single hour ever recorded in the city," Christopher Tate, a meteorologist with the FOX Forecast Center, told the New York Post.
He added, “It was bested only by the nearly 3 inches of rain that fell in New York City during the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in 2021.”
Highways blocked due to flooding
In other parts of New York, highways such as the Saw Mill River Parkway and Cross Bronx Expressway were shut down due to flooding. Images showed cars almost completely submerged in water, CBS News reported.
In Scotch Plains, New Jersey, emergency teams were seen helping a man trapped in his car amidst rising floodwaters. Vehicles, including an ambulance, UPS truck, and bus, were seen stranded in the streets, CBS shared.
Warnings issued to residents
At the start of the storm, NYC Mayor Eric Adams warned residents on X/Twitter, “New York City is currently under a Flood Watch until midnight tonight as storms come through our area. Keep an eye on the weather and stay safe!
“Never drive into flooded water, and be careful if you're in basement apartments. Call 311 to report flooding or other problems,” he posted.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also declared a state of emergency, citing flash flooding and heavy rainfall in parts of the state. "Please stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. Stay safe, New Jersey," Murphy posted on X.
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services warned, "A Flash Flood Warning means flooding is happening or is about to happen. New Yorkers in these areas, be prepared and move to higher ground. Never walk or drive through flood waters. Remember, turn around, don’t drown."
The NYPD's Chief of Transportation issued a warning about the flooding on the Cross Bronx Expressway at Jerome Avenue, saying both directions were blocked. Travelers were advised to take alternate routes and expect delays.