A mother and her toddler drowned after their car was swept into a culvert during flooding in Fort Worth, Texas, following heavy rainstorms.
In a separate incident, the flood waters also claimed the life of a 69 year-old-man who was trying to drive through high water in Fort Worth.
18-year-old Jessica Romero and her 2-year-old daughter, Llaylanii were driving down an access road when their four-door sedan was swept down by high water into a swollen culvert and 30-foot deep waters, reported local media.
Nearby workers tried in vain to get them out, according to Fox News.
“They tried to help, they tried to break the windows out. They were unable to so then they immediately called it in,” Fort Worth Battalion Chief James Mcamis said, reported Fox.
“Unfortunately, by the time we actually got here there was no way for us to actually save their lives.”
“When we got here the water was 30 feet deep and we couldn’t go in,” McAmis said, according to the Star-Telegram.
According to The Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Fire Department reported more than 20 high water rescues and stranded motorists calls on Sept. 8, following rainfall that reached 3.85 inches in some areas.
Over 3 Inches Rainfall
“There was nothing we could do, the current was too strong,” he said.
Dive later crews found the woman and a toddler, dead in the car, reported Fox.
The mother and her two-year-old daughter were later identified by local media, confirmed on a GoFundMe page set up to help with funeral costs.
The floodwaters also claimed the life of Eddy Volpp, 69, of Arlington, who was on his way to pick up his wife when his car was swept away near South Cravens Road and Oakdale Drive in Fort Worth, reported Fox.
Alex Juarez was driving behind the vehicle when the high water swept the car away, reported USA Today.
“The car tried to cross the channel, and the water just swept it away,” he said. “We could just see the rooftop of the car, and we were trying to make sure it was a car.”
According to the paper, the water was several feet above a bridge, and the car was carried about 100 feet down a creek.
Firefighters said they had received a call at around 11 a.m. from a witness who said a car had been washed away by high water, but were not able to find the vehicle because it was covered in water.
When floodwaters receded, about 3.5 hours later, the top of the vehicle became visible, and divers confirmed that a body was found inside.
33 injury vehicle crashes including five rollovers were reported in the Fort Worth area from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 8, according to the Star-Telegram.
From The Epoch Times
