Truck driver reports tragic flash flood in Erwin, which resulted in a capsizing accident that killed people

ERWIN, Tenn. (WCYB) – On Friday, September 27, truck driver Michael Dorsey was driving a scheduled pickup near Impact Plastics in Erwin Tennessee when flash flooding in the area turned a routine stop into a tragedy.

“The water reached about 2 to 3 inches where we almost covered my truck,” Michael said.

Michael explained that he was almost finished loading his truck when he was asked to evacuate, saying that by then it was already too late.

When I pulled out of the driveway they didn’t even make it down the street. They didn’t make it to the road, so they never had a chance, Michael said.

As he attempted to leave, Michael saw several people standing in the water, including Bertha Mendoza.

He explains that she was desperate for his help.

“It was an older lady named Miss Bertha, she knocked on my door and because the water was starting to rise she asked if they could get into my trailer so I let everyone get into my trailer,” Michael said.

However, the water level continued to rise and Michael and everyone on board the trailer became trapped.

The pressure of the water became so strong that it capsized my truck, and then when it capsized, it separated from the trailer and the trailer began to rise in the water, Michael said.

After the capsize, everyone fell into the rushing water.

There was a strong current that was probably pushing the water at 40 or 50 miles per hour, Michael said. It was like a whitewater rafting trip.

As he fell, Michael said he was holding on to Bertha Mendoza but was hit in the head and lost consciousness, causing him to let go.

He remembers that the cold water quickly woke him up, but by then she had already disappeared.

The latest report states that Bertha Mendoza and four other workers at the trailer are now dead, with one of them still missing.

When the news broke, Michael told News 5’s Yannia Nordelo that he felt a pang of guilt.

I held her and told her she was fine when she came and I told her I did it and I wasn’t going to let anything happen to her and then if she got hit in the head or whatever If it hits me, I’ll lose it. “It made me feel like I had responsibility,” Michael said.

He said he did his best to help.

“I still have visions and nightmares about what happened,” Michael said. I mean, I tried to help, but there’s only so much you can do.

As a result of the events, Impact Plastics is currently under investigation by TBI and TOSHA.

Michael also wanted to mention that his thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones.