Record-setting heavy rains caused insane flooding in metro Detroit last night—we're talking build-an-ark-and-load-the-animals stuff. How bad was it? Here's the statement issued by the Michigan State Police yesterday during rush hour:

Please advise your viewers, listeners or readers to avoid non essential use of the Metro Detroit Freeway system. All freeways in the Metro area are currently experiencing flooding at different points. Also remind everyone to not drive through standing water as it is hard to determine how deep the water is. MDOT will continue to update closings on its twitter page and MI Drive.

The warning to not drive through standing water was no joke, as unfortunate Detroiter and Ford Focus ST driver Ben Marouski learned when he arrived at the Woodward Hills Blvd overpass on what appears to be I-75. He posted the terrible consequences to the MI Foci group page on Facebook. Ford Performance fans, you may want to shield your eyes:

We spoke to Marouski, a CG artist at Team Detroit (Ford's marketing agency), who described the chain of events. The first thing we asked was whether his car had been recovered yet.

"My car is still floating on the highway...I keep seeing it on the news."

"I was about a mile from my house after an almost 3-hour drive from work. Usually, my commute takes 25 minutes. I left early hoping to get ahead of it all. I got up to the overpass and a Mustang went through it on the right side right in front of me. Once I saw the GT go through, I figured my car is around the same height and that I'd be okay."

"Once I followed the Mustang and my car started taking on water, I knew I was screwed. I ended up jumping from my passenger-side window onto the concrete at the side of the highway. My car actually started to float backwards—I was originally 3/4 of the way through it when I had to bail out.

By the time it was over, all that was visible from under the brown water was the forlorn open tailgate.

"When the hatch popped open before it went under, I wanted to cry. It was like the car gasping for air and reaching out to me. I couldn't do anything. I just had to step back on the side of the highway and and watch Mother Nature take her away".

Here's a screenshot of Ben's car on the local news:

Marouski's insurance company has already provided him with a rental car, but he said that the initial conversation with them was interesting, to say the least.

"They were honestly dumbfounded and couldn't comprehend the fact that the car was totally submerged."

He also said that the state is towing out the flooded cars, but calls to the authorities to find out if there's a timetable have been fruitless.

"Super rude, not helpful. I tried to be nice on the phone, as I know they're getting bombarded."

Ultimately, Marouski knows that it all could have been immeasurably worse. The AP reports that one woman died after her car was similarly trapped.

"I'm safe, and cars can be replaced. It's just a bummer."

It's a hard lesson learned. And folks, when there's flooding? Assume that the standing water WILL eat your car, and know that that's not even the worst that can happen.

The weather's supposed to be lousy in Detroit today, too. Be careful out there.

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