Texas train conductors forced to SWIM to safety after flood waters derail carriages amid fears knock-on effects of Hurricane Patricia will make flooding even worse 

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A powerful storm system hit Texas on Saturday, derailing a freight train, flooding roads, canceling flights and even delaying a Formula One US Grand Prix auto race. The storm hit as parts of the state braced for the remnants of Hurricane Patricia to arrive.

A Union Pacific freight train derailed at about 3.30am on Saturday near Corsicana, about 50 miles south of Dallas, because a creek overflowed and washed away the tracks, said Jeff DeGraff, a railroad spokesman.

Many areas in Texas, including some of its biggest cities, were under flash flood watches through Sunday or Monday.

The remnants of Patricia, which was downgraded to a tropical depression and was expected to reach northern Mexico by Saturday night, may add to the rain falling in South and Central Texas, said Jesse Moore, a National Weather Service forecaster in Fort Worth.

No injuries were reported in the derailment, where two conductors were able to escape from their downed train and swim to safety before being picked up by emergency workers in Navarro County, south of Dallas.

A freight train derailed on Saturday near Corsicana, Texas, about 50 miles south of Dallas, after a creek overflowed and washed away the tracks

The Union Pacific train locomotive and several of its cars derailed around 3.30am on Saturday as floods took over many areas of Texas

Two train conductors were able to swim to safety after they derailed because water had washed over the tracks during widespread flooding in Texas

The train, carrying gravel, derailed when traveling near the town of Corsicana, Texas, which has received more than 18 inches of rain

Torrential rains are battering Texas as a recent storm system mixes with remnants of Hurricane Patricia that are moving up from Mexico

'They (crew) escaped the train after it stopped and swam to high ground,' DeGraff said. 'A Navarro County rescue team was able to get in and pull them to safety, they are back safe on dry ground.'

One locomotive and several rail cars loaded with gravel went into the water and were partly submerged, DeGraff said. He had no specifics on how many cars derailed because crews couldn't reach the site due to flooding.

Authorities on Saturday morning reopened a section of Interstate 45 near Corsicana that was closed overnight due to flooding, backing up traffic for 12 miles, with motorists sleeping in their cars or being rescued.

The storm system already moving through Texas dumped nearly two feet of rain on parts of the state since Friday, causing flooding that blocked several major roadways.

Galveston County Judge Mark Henry on Saturday issued a voluntary evacuation for Bolivar Peninsula, just northeast of Galveston Island, after forecasters predicted that the area would get eight to 12 inches of rain and tides that are four to five feet high.

The judge warned that residents who don't leave might find themselves cut off from emergency services as the heaviest winds and rains come ashore. The storm was expected to reach the area by around 6pm on Saturday.

J.B. Neckar, right, and his brother Johnny Neckar, left, paddle their mother Gelene Neckar, center, from her flooded home near Downsville, Texas

Cody Kelly walks through over-the-knee-high water from a flooded home near Downsville, Texas, on Saturday. Heavy rains have forced parts of the Brazos River out of its banks and endangering homes located in the small community just outside of Waco

Austin Fire Department rescue personnel secure a low water crossing entrance over Williamson Creek on Saturday as the state of Texas braced for the remnants o f Hurricane Patricia to arrive

Local residents watch a flooded street in Austin as torrential rains created transit mayhem across Texas, including including a train derailment and scores of canceled flights at one of the nation's busiest airports

'Elderly residents and people with medical conditions should make plans to leave the area before dark,' Henry said.

County spokeswoman Brittany Rainville said there were buses waiting to evacuate people, but no one had yet shown up to leave as of early Saturday afternoon. She said about 4,000 people live on the peninsula.

In San Antonio, a man walking his dog before dawn early Saturday was swept into a flooded drainage ditch and disappeared, fire officials said. Firefighters searched for two hours but had to stop due to bad weather. They planned to resume as soon as possible. The dog is safe.

A driver in the Central Texas town of Temple heading to work Saturday morning was saved after he was able to get out of his car that was floating in floodwaters and grabbed a tree.

Temple police say the man called 911 from his cellphone to summon help. Firefighters retrieved him and walked him to safety.

Many low-lying roads were closed as waters caused traffic chaos for motorists.

Areas around Dallas have seen hundreds of accidents called to police as the rain caused chaos for motorists. Above, a flooded bicycle path near White Rock Lake in Dallas

The Lower Colorado River Authority opened floodgates at Tom Miller Dam to relieve possible flooding on Lake Austin on Saturday in Austin Texas

The flooding has led to one homeless man being reported missing after rescuing his dog from a drainage ditch. Above, a flooded road in Dallas

Floodgates at the Tom Miller Dam were opened to relieve possible flooding in Lake Austin as storms hit across the state of Texas Saturday

The current flooding comes fives months after trains over Memorial Day weekend killed 30. Above, a man sets a wreath in the Blanco River on Thursday to commemorate a victim of the May floods

WFAA reports that Dallas authorities have received reports of 500 accidents and 33 calls for water rescues as of 9am.

Moore said that since Friday morning, Corsicana has received 18 inches of rain and Powell has received 20 inches.

Flight tracker flightaware.com reported that about 100 Saturday flights had been canceled at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Also in Austin on Saturday was the a qualifying race for the US State Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas, which takes place on Sunday.

Due to a rain delay, several drivers, track workers and crew members were seen dancing around and trying to find ways to pass time as rain delayed the qualifiers. 

A flash flood watch was in effect for the Waco, Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Laredo and Brownsville areas through Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service. The flash flood watch for Dallas and Fort Worth was lifted Saturday afternoon.

San Antonio broke its record for daily rainfall, 3.53 inches set in 2004, early Saturday morning, but was still receiving rain. 

The crew members were not injured and were able to escape train before swimming to safety. Above, pictures from the scene taken by Navarro County emergency workers

A weather map from early Saturday afternoon shows that despite some areas already receiving more than 20 inches of rain, parts of southern Texas and Louisiana are still projected to receive much more

Sauber driver Felipe Nasr of Brazil, right, and Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany, left, drive during the third practice session for the Formula One US Grand Prix auto race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin on Saturday as rain took over the city

Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat, right, of Russia, and Daniel Ricciardo, of Australia dance during a rain delay before the start of qualifying for the Formula One US Grand Prix

Mercedes Formula One driver Nico Rosberg of Germany kicks a soccer ball during the rain delay before the start of qualifying for the US F1 Grand Prix

Navarro County has seen some of the worst from the rain, with an observer in Powell measured 20.15 inches.

Forecasters say Houston and Galveston remain under a flash flood watch through Monday morning, with possible coastal flooding concerns. 

Patricia has since been downgraded to a tropical tropical depression after making landfall on the western coast of Mexico, but the storm is causing torrential rains and flooding in Mexico as it moves north.

Flood watches, advisories and warnings were issued for almost all 27 million Texans, though there had been no reported deaths or injuries.

The National Weather Service projected that up to three more inches of rain could fall in Waco through Sunday, with smaller totals expected for Dallas and Corsicana.

Authorities in Houston, which suffered in flooding that killed more than 30 people in May, have also worried about possible coastal flooding in addition to the rain.

The National Weather Service office in city issued a flash flood watch for most of southern Texas until Monday.

Galveston, an island on the state's southeast coast, was expected to get close to 10 more inches through Sunday evening.

The Williams crew act like they are rowing a boat during a rain delay before the start of qualifying for the Formula One US Grand Prix auto race at the Circuit of the Americas

British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes AMG GP walks to his garage during a rain delay before the start qualifying at the Circuit of the Americas

A track workers leaves the course with a broken umbrealla during a weather delay in qualifying for the Formula One US Grand Prix on Saturday