Missing children presumed dead after car is swept into flooded river

wsmv.com ^ | February 17, 2003

[Mr. Mulliner]

Giles County
Relative releases names of missing children

February 17, 2003

 A relative of two missing Giles County youngsters says she wishes rescuers could find them in the rain-swollen Elk River.

 County rescue squad chief Dennis Russell says 31-year-old Lisa Norwood was the only person rescued after her car was swept off the Veto Road bridge late Sunday night.

 It happened south of Pulaksi, near the Alabama line. People who live near the river banks heard screaming and called 9-1-1.

 Russell told The Daily Herald of Columbia Norwood rolled down a window in her compact sports coupe and crawled out. She floated about 100 yards downstream and held onto a support for a railroad bridge.

 Monday, as rescuers continued to look for the children, their grandmother sat in a car sobbing. She identified them as seven-year-old Eliza Furguson and 12-year-old Emmet Furguson -- the niece and nephew of Norwood.

 Russell says the two children are believed to still be in the car and are presumed dead. The vehicle is still underwater.

 He also says Norwood drove past warning signs that cautioned drivers not to try crossing the bridge because of flooding.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[Mr. Mulliner]

Very little hope of recovery, of course. Prayers for the family.

[PhiKapMom]

He also says Norwood drove past warning signs that cautioned drivers not to try crossing the bridge because of flooding.

When are people going to realize that you don't drive by warning signs. I feel sorry for the two youngsters but we have so many rescue people whose lives are at risk because of stupid drivers that ignore warning signs and drive on ahead!

[kassie]

Prayers being said. We saw this every year in San Antonio. Barriers would be in place, and still people would drive around them. Such a tragedy.

[Mr. Mulliner]

That woman is going to live with the memory of her stupidity for the rest of her life. Quite a price to pay for ignoring the warning signs. I hope other people learn without having to go through something like this.

[Mr. Mulliner]

Here's another flood story with a happier ending.

Car driven into high water to evade police, authorities say

By SUE MCCLURE
Staff Writer

COLUMBIA — Two men and a woman are in the Maury County Jail after they led law officers on a car chase through Columbia late Sunday night, then ran off the road into the rain-swollen Duck River, according to Sheriff Enoch George.

Here's the rest of the story

By the way, the Duck River runs about 5 miles away from us.

[PhiKapMom]

Used to live outside San Antonio and every major rain they had someone drive around the barricades or warning sides and the rescue squads risked their lives to save them. It has been so well publicized around the Country that NO ONE should ever drive around warning signs.

You are right -- she does have to live with this and it is so unnecessary! It wasn't just stupid -- what she did was illegal! The road people don't put up those signs because they like to -- they do it so people won't get caught in flooding waters and get swept away in their cars.

[f.Christian]

I attend a local church here with the most lovely retired couple from the west coast. The husband is the most deeply religous, sensitive -- emotional man I have met in my life. Visiting his family back east while backing up he drove over and killed his grandchild and through the grace and love of God for all appearances he did the impossible (( prayers ))---recovered very well ... quickly too!

[Mr. Mulliner]

I can't even begin to imagine what that would be like. So glad he's recovered. Thank God for that.

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

Very tragic for those involved. I wonder though, from where was the woman rescued? Did she somehow manage to escape from the car after it was swept away; was it already submerged in the water? I'm simply curious about additional details in the story.

[quack]

I live just east of the Elk River.It's very unforgiving when it rains like this.I fish it regularly and I routinely see debris,20-30 feet in trees from previous flood waters.It will be nearly impossible to find the vehicle until the waters recede.

[Ichneumon]

When are people going to realize that you don't drive by warning signs.

Just a reminder to all -- flowing water is VERY powerful, far more than you'd imagine. Trying to drive across a bridge or a road which has even a few inches of water flowing over it can be enough to sweep your car away. Standing water is one thing, but moving water is entirely another. Don't even think of trying it.

[quack]

Looks like they were found this morning.Much faster than I expected.
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