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DENVER — Marble-sized hail fell hard in downtown Denver Wednesday evening, nailing streets and cars just as the work day let out.

Minutes after the hail started, tornado sirens sounded in Denver, warning people to take cover.

Heavy rain caused a manhole cover to blow at 24th Avenue and Washington Street. Flash flooding left  intersections like 7th Avenue and Lincoln Street buried under flowing water.

“Tow truck guy was making a fortune.  He pulled about 6 cars out of here in 15-20 minutes and im sure he was charging plenty of money,” said Alan Fine who watched as many tried to drive through those flooded intersections.

John gavin was one of those drivers forced to pay $65 dollars for a tow out of a flooded downtown roadway.

“I had to put my hazards on and everything.  The tow truck came and got me up over here in the parking lot to where it was dry land.  Its like a beach out here.  We were just talking about the ocean when the shore meets the sand, waves and everything,” said Gavin

At 18th and Lafayette, a car stalled in high water.

“The water was coming down so fast that it had actually stalled her car out and pushed her back,” said Sean Stout who witnessed the woman inside panicking when water started seeping in through the car doors.

“Then this gentleman came by in a truck; She came out her sunroof and he saved her, brought her over here, but her car is still stuck,” said Stout.

Those caught in the storm say it came on fast and furious, leaving many no choice but to risk trying to get home.

“I was scared,” said Jessica Anderson, who just moved to Denver from Arizona.

“Just to see this much water fall this fast is kind of crazy,” said Stout.

While many drivers were seen driving through flooded roadways, doing so is not recommended.

In situations similar to what the city saw Wednesday, drivers are urged to abandon their car and seek higher ground.