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Motorists had to be rescued from more than a dozen vehicles stalled in flood water Wednesday under two Whitemud Drive overpasses after a severe thunderstorm swept through the city.

The storm knocked out power and flooded streets, including Whitemud Drive at the 111 Street and 106 Street overpasses. Firefighters used inflatable rafts to reach some motorists, caught in video footage posted on social media.

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The water was knee-deep, said Deris Spencer, a Whitemud motorist who became stuck in a flash flood under the 111 Street overpass.

“We were in the middle lane when it conked out and other traffic just kept coming by, so we tried to get out, but every time the traffic came by, it swamped the car,” she said.

Photo by Ed Kaiser / Postmedia

It was only when cars stalled in the other lanes, she said, that it was safe to get out and push her car to higher ground.

No injuries were reported from the Whitemud flooding, said Shani Gwin, a fire rescue spokeswoman. There were 16 firefighters on the Whitemud at the two overpasses, she added.

The freeway remained closed between 99 and 122 streets during the evening rush hour.

Meanwhile, a man was treated in hospital after being struck by lightning in Bonnie Doon Park. He was taken to hospital in stable condition, said Kerry Williamson, a spokesman with Alberta Health Services.