What started as a holiday weekend of rough weather in southeastern Ohio ended in tragedy after a 5-year-old boy was found dead yesterday following flash flooding near Lewisville in Monroe County.
The child was reported missing around Sunday evening in the village, and a large search quickly formed. Dozens of volunteers, deputies and local firefighters fanned out across the area and kept looking into the night. By yesterday, the boy's body was discovered in a creek drainage near State Route 78, and authorities say a full investigation is now underway.
Monroe County Sheriff Derek Norman said dispatchers first received the report of a missing 5-year-old in Lewisville at about 7:15 p.m. Sunday. Deputies, the Lewisville Volunteer Fire Department and members of the public canvassed the surrounding area, according to CBS Pittsburgh. The sheriff's office said the child's body was later found in a creek drainage area near State Route 78 and that he had not been identified as of yesterday evening. Officials asked for privacy as the family grieves and said no further information was being released at this time.
The sheriff's written release also detailed other flood rescues that unfolded as waters rose quickly. A young girl and a man were pulled from a creek, and one rescue left deputies and firefighters briefly trapped along a creek bank, as reported by WLWT. "The Monroe County Sheriff's Office extends its deepest condolences to the child's family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time," the statement said. Officials again urged residents to steer clear of floodwaters and to remember that even shallow, moving water can be dangerously powerful.
Widespread Flash Flooding Across Ohio
Heavy storms on Sunday triggered flash-flood warnings across parts of eastern Ohio. The N ational Weather Service issued advisories for counties that included Monroe, Noble and parts of Wetzel County, W.Va., according to the National Weather Service.
Further north, WOIO reported that Kelleys Island and parts of Erie County were drenched with an estimated 7 to 20 inches of rain in some spots. Roads were shut down, businesses closed, and local officials said the speed of the flooding made rescues hazardous. Residents were urged to take the warnings seriously and not try to push through high water.
Investigation And Safety Reminders
Police are investigating the child's death and again asked the public to respect the family's privacy, Sheriff Derek Norman said in his release, per CBS Pittsburgh. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office also urged residents to use extreme caution during heavy rainfall and warned that flooded roadways and creek crossings are often deeper and faster than they look.
Floodwaters can move quickly and turn harmless-looking streams deadly, the National Weather Service's safety guidance notes. Drivers and pedestrians are told not to travel through flooded roadways under any circumstances. Local emergency agencies reminded residents that when in doubt, the safest move is to get to higher ground, wait for waters to recede, and follow updates from official channels.
