Child Rescued After Being Swept Away By Flood Waters In Van Buren

VAN BUREN, Ark. (KFSM) — First responders have rescued a child in Van Buren after he was swept away by flood waters through a culvert on an access road.

Jonathan Wear with the Van Buren Police Department said the 9-year-old child was swept away under I-40 after being falling into a drainage ditch. He was swept into the culvert and taken more than 200 yards under I-40 before finally being rescued. Police say he was found clinging to a grapevine behind a home on Rena Rd.

The child's brother was able to flag down a driver on an access road to call for help. VBPD said the culvert was almost full of water at the time the boy was swept inside of it.

Police say the boy is alive and walked away with just scratches. It's unclear at this time why the boy was so close to the drainage ditch.

Over two inches of rain fell within an hour, causing roads to flood.

This is a developing story, stay with 5NEWS for updates.