---
title: "California Mudslides Turn a Toyota Prius Into an Urban Log Flume Ride"
description: "The death toll in California's disastrous mudslides this week could have been higher were it not for a tough little Toyota Prius ably doubling as a log flume ride to safety for two lucky individuals."
date: "2018-01-12"
modified: "2018-01-12"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/17611/california-mudslides-turn-a-toyota-prius-into-an-urban-log-flume-ride"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Toyota News"
tags:
  - "California"
  - "compact"
  - "flood"
  - "Hatchback"
  - "hybrid"
  - "mudslide"
  - "Prius"
  - "Toyota"
---

# California Mudslides Turn a Toyota Prius Into an Urban Log Flume Ride

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/01/prius-1.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The one-two punch of Southern California's [endless fire season](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/15065/deputys-dash-cam-video-from-the-california-wildfires-is-like-riding-through-hell>) followed by a massive rainstorm this week triggered mudslides that tore through several hillside communities on Tuesday, killing at least 17 people. But the death toll could have been higher were it not for a tough little Toyota Prius C ably doubling as a log flume ride to safety for two lucky individuals.

Firefighters responding to a mudslide in the hills near Burbank captured the crazy sight on Country Club Drive as a secondary flow carried the hybrid down the wall-lined street like a perfectly-designed water park ride. Scooting along at the crest of the surging mix of mud and water with its windshield wipers on high, it seems like the front wheels have just enough traction to allow the frantic driver to steer a bit and keep the [Prius](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/16242/toyota-axes-the-prius-v-in-the-u-s>) pointed downhill.

https://youtube.com/embed/_7Xm7G_6nDA

As it rides the flow downhill and out of sight, the person filming pans back up the road to reveal its transformation into a raging river. You have to wonder about all that water catching up to the Prius eventually—but thankfully, [*KTLA* tracked down the driver,](<https://ktla.com/2018/01/11/firefighters-share-video-of-prius-bobsledding-in-burbank-mudflow/>) who survived the insanity with the Prius surprisingly intact.

Desionne Franklin told the station he and his girlfriend decided to evacuate after watching conditions worsen throughout the morning and receiving the order from authorities. But first they had to shovel out several feet of mud that had already accumulated in their driveway, and by the time they managed to leave, it was already too late.

"When I got halfway down the hill, I just felt this burst of water hit the back of the car," he said.

As his girlfriend screamed "at the top of her lungs," he did his best to steer the Prius around obstacles as the torrent pushed them downhill, somehow making it to the bottom and maneuvering out of the flow. That's when they saw several other cars that had been previously washed down and smashed beyond recognition, driving home just how lucky they were to escape unscathed.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdvaIErB80C

That includes the Prius—Franklin [told *KTLA*](<https://ktla.com/2018/01/11/firefighters-share-video-of-prius-bobsledding-in-burbank-mudflow/>) that other than a few dings and scratches, the car seems to be running just fine.

"I didn’t even know a Prius could hold up in nothing like that," he said.

It's not the first time we've seen a video showcasing the surprising toughness of Toyota's iconic hybrid: [This video from a massive flood in Houston](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/14238/watch-a-toyota-prius-drive-through-a-houston-flood-like-its-nothing>) shows an earlier model rolling through feet-deep waters like it's nothing.

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)