Page 5 - Mark Dart News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Jose and mark dart up a ladder to the top of the 20-ton truck, figuring it won't budge, they'll be safe. they're mistaken. 150,000 gallons of water a second are now rushing down the l.a. river, forcing the mixer to move. >> that's when i started getting scared. and if the water pushed us right into the middle of the river and we started floating down river. >> the truck is just approaching the 10 freeway southbound over the river. >> jose and mark are just beginning their wild ride. up ahead, bridges, overpasses and then a clear shot out to the pacific ocean. but first, a more immediate fear -...

Driver, and his partner, mark, are set to work on the dry bed of the los angeles river fixing a crumbling overpass like these crews seen here. on most days the l.a. river looks like this, an open concrete trench, but when it rains the storm runoff from all the valleys in los angeles has only one place to go, the river basin. there's no forecast for heavy rain, just a light drizzle at most. nothing to worry about. but suddenly up river about noon it begins to pour. >> i was very concerned. and i kept telling mark that we should be out of there. >> at first, the water downstream is just a trickl...

Going to be able to make it. >> it's 1997. jose nunez, a cement truck driver, and his partner, mark, are set to work on the dry bed of the los angeles river fixing a crumbling overpass like these crews seen here. on most days the l.a. river looks like this, an open concrete trench, but when it rains the storm runoff from all the valleys in los angeles has only one place to go, the river basin. there's no forecast for heavy rain, just a light drizzle at most. nothing to worry about. but suddenly up river about noon it begins to pour. >> i was very concerned. and i kept telling mark that we shou...

Up ahead, bridges, overpasses and then a clear shot out to the pacific ocean. but first, a more immediate fear -- the truck hits a bridge abutment, breaks free, but nearly rolls over. mark is afraid the mixer might tip and crush them. he wants to jump off and take his chances in the raging river. >> i was ready to jump at any time in case the truck would roll over. i didn't want to be underneath it. >> but jose nunez wants to stay put. the men agree to hang on and take their chances on the moving mixer. they fear the worst. >> jose was really concerned about something happening serious. becaus...

>> an ordinary day on the job comes to a surreal end for two construction workers. by 5:00, they're not heading home to their families but heading 30 miles an hour down the los angeles river clinging to the side of a cement truck fighting for their lives. >> certain points you think that -- you start doubting that, you know, you're probably not going to be able to make it. >> it's 1997. jose nunez, a cement truck driver, and his partner, mark, are set to work on the dry bed of the los angeles river fixing a crumbling overpass like these crews seen here. on most days the l.a. river looks like t...