Update: Sunday’s Dee Head Rd. drowning victims, survivors identified
STAFF REPORT
Monday, Dec. 23, 2013, 8 p.m. UPDATED Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013, 3 p.m. — The identifies of the three victims who died in Sunday’s flooding incident near New Hope have been released by Nelson County Coroner Field Houghlin.
The three were identified as Cindy Newberry, 36, of Gravel Switch, who was driving the SUV; and her passengers Chris Gray, 51, of Campbellsville and Don Paul Allen, 61, of Raywick.
The three died early Sunday morning when a 2007 Ford SUV with five people inside was swept into flood waters of Pottinger Creek on Dee Head Road near New Hope. The Rolling Fork Fire Department was dispatched to the scene at 2 a.m. Sunday after Nelson County Dispatch received reports of a vehicle trapped in flood waters.
Two of the vehicle’s occupants, Cindy Newberry’s husband Jason Newberry, 40, and Debbie Puyera, 48, escaped from the vehicle. They were transported by Nelson County EMS to Flaget Memorial for treatment of hypothermia. Swift water rescue team from Taylor County, Hart County and the 41st Airborne were called to the scene to assist with the recovery of the victims Sunday morning.
“This is such a tragic loss, our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims’ families,” said Joe Prewitt, director of Nelson County EMS and the county’s emergency management office. “This is a stark reminder why we caution people to never, never attempt to drive through, walk through or allow children to play in flood waters.”
The Rolling Fork Fire Department received assistance from the New Hope, Bardstown and Raywick Fire departments, as well as emergency management officials from LaRue, Marion and Nelson counties.
The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation.
STORMS PROMPT FLOODING, POWER OUTAGES. The storms that brought high winds and heavy rains prompted flood warnings across Kentucky. Salt River Electric’s toll-free outage reporting line was overwhelmed with calls for more than two hours. A recorded messaged asked callers to try calling later. Power was out on Louisville Road north of KY 509 for about four hours due.
The National Weather Service Office in Louisville has confirmed a EF1 tornado near the community of Greensburg that past just north of Campbellsville in Taylor County. In Barren County, winds topping 70 mph damaged small barns and outbuildings, down trees and caused damage to a service station canopy near Interstate 65.
The storm claimed two additional victims; one person drowned in Carroll County after an ATV accident in floodwaters, and the driver of a car in Ballard County died when their car was found in a flooded ditch.
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