Motorist Pulled From Swelling Trabuco Creek

A routine creek crossing turned into a high-profile hassle Saturday afternoon when driver Mike Sullivan became stuck in the rising waters of Trabuco Creek and soon found himself surrounded by helicopters, 10 fire engines and two swift-water rescue teams.

Sullivan, who was crossing the creek near La Zanja Street about 2:30 p.m. to reach a stable where he boards horses, dialed 911 for a tow truck, not realizing the call would set off a full-scale response.

He wanted no part of it.

“We threw him a rope and he threw it back,” said Scott Brown, spokesman for the Orange County Fire Authority.

Sullivan was eventually pulled out of the thigh-high water by a tractor.

But by then, the fire engines were long gone.

“You could call it a good training exercise,” said Brown, who advised drivers to stay clear of rain-swollen streams.