A massive water main break trapped about a dozen commuters in their cars Tuesday as the swift, frigid waters flooded a suburban Washington road, and rescuers in helicopters and boats had to pluck people from the whitewater unleashed by an aging pipe.

Two people in a minivan climbed into a basket lowered by a helicopter as the floodwaters raged past them, spraying water on a rescuer reaching out to save them, television images showed. Crews also used a boat to rescue motorists from waters at least 4 feet deep.