FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A woman died Sunday after the vehicle she was driving was swept away by floodwaters in the Pax area of Fayette County, according to Sheriff Jess McMullen
According to witnesses, the vehicle made a wrong turn and entered an area affected by rapidly rising flood waters. As the vehicle was swept away by the current, a tree branch broke the vehicle’s glass. The driver attempted to escape the vehicle but fell into the floodwaters and was carried away by the current.
Pax Volunteer Fire Department, Fayette County Swift Water Rescue, Oak Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Fayetteville Volunteer Fire Department and Fayette County Sheriff’s deputies responded and conducted an extensive search and rescue operation. Search efforts continued until severe weather and another round of storms forced operations to be suspended overnight.
Search efforts resumed Monday morning. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Department Drone Unit located the driver during the continued search.
Sheriff Jess McMullen expressed his condolences to the woman’s family and urged residents to use extreme caution during flooding.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with this woman’s family during this extremely difficult time. This is a tragic reminder of how quickly flood waters can become deadly. If you encounter water covering a roadway, do not attempt to drive through it. Turn around and find another route. The water may be deeper, faster and more dangerous than it appears.”
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Department extends its condolences to the victim’s family and recognizes the efforts of all responding agencies and personnel who worked throughout the night and into Monday morning in the search and rescue operation.
