A driver was left stranded in flood water this week after having to dodge a lorry which should not have been using the narrow road beside Loch Long.
But health visitor Heather Spriggs, of KIlcreggan, was rescued from knee-deep water on the A814 thanks to a passing motorist, who sought help from Argyll and Bute Council workers and Ministry of Transport Police.
She was driving from Arrochar towards Whistlefield at 2.45pm on Tuesday, on a stretch of road which is signposted as unsuitable for heavy vehicles and when road conditions were especially bad after prolonged heavy rain.
“All of a sudden there was this big truck heading at me in the middle of the road,” she said.
“I pulled in because there was quite a defined area of lay-by but my car just went straight down into a hole that was hidden by the floodwater.
“The lorry just went flying past me, leaving me stuck.”
Water had started seeping into the car’s interior and there was no mobile phone signal so she could not call for help, but fortunately a passing motorist saw her plight and alerted the council workers and MoD Police.
“They were wonderful, they were just so efficient, they towed me out and checked that I was OK – the council even stayed with me until I reached Whistlefield to make sure the car was alright.
“Thank you so, so much to the initial man who got the help for me, to the MoD Police and the council workers for coming to my rescue – it meant I could go and get on with my work.”
The narrow, winding stretch of road is frequently blocked by HGVs when the A82 beside Loch Lomond is closed, while coach firm Lochs & Glens say the ban on heavy vehicles doesn’t apply to tour buses.
An Argyll and Bute spokesperson said: “Our operations staff have been incredibly busy over the past few days doing flood patrols and dealing with localised flooding.
“We’ve also been dealing with flooding in Oban and supporting the emergency services where needed.
“We know that our staff go the extra mile for our communities on a daily basis. However, exceptional circumstances like this show just how much they care and we’re glad members of our team were able to provide assistance.
“The A814 at Loch Long is not suitable for HGVs and this is clearly signposted at either end.”
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