Tragedy struck in Barstow on Thursday evening as authorities launched a search for 2-year-old Xavier Padilla Aguilera, who went missing following a flash flood that swept away the car he was traveling in with his father. According to ABC News, the pair were driving along a main road when a deluge of water forced their vehicle off the road around 7:14 p.m., separating the family members.
The urgent quest to find the young boy, who his family says has autism and is nonverbal, saw his father, 26-year-old Brandon Padilla Aguilera, recovered by rescue teams. He was found stranded on an island formed by the floodwaters, and after being rescued, was treated and released from Barstow Community Hospital. The search for Xavier was momentarily put on hold overnight, as reported by CBS News Los Angeles.
With the boy last seen wearing black pants, a black shirt, and black and white Nike shoes, the response to the incident has been extensive, involving multiple agencies such as the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Police, California Highway Patrol, and San Bernardino County Fire's Swift Water Rescue Team. As the community rallied together, local volunteers and concerned citizens joined the effort to cover more ground.
"We have a bunch of volunteers out here who are still looking," Xavier's aunt, Leanna, told ABC News station KABC-TV. Speaking with volunteers equipped with bright lights, she hoped to cut through the darkness that veiled any clues to her nephew's whereabouts. Their efforts continued into the next day, with roughly 150 people participating in the search. The assistance was coordinated following reports of the car being swept off the roadway due to the heavy rainfall and flooding, as detailed by NBC Los Angeles.
The loss of a child unfurls a desperation, a calling forth of an entire village to arms, searching through mud and shadows. Xavier's whereabouts remain urgent, with local authorities urging anyone with information to come forward and contact them immediately.
