Man dies when car swept off road during flash flood
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An Upshur County man died—possibly drowned—as his car was swept off Fox Road, as flash flooding hit the area Sunday during heavy rains and thunderstorms.
The victim was identified as Alois “Al” Otto Raabe, 78, who lived on Gorilla Road near Simpsonville.
According to Department of Public Safety Trooper Walt Smith, who investigated, Raabe left home at about 8:20 a.m. Sunday to pick up his nephew, who lived nearby, to go to church. When he had not arrived at the nephew’s by 8:40, the nephew called Raabe’s house. Raabe’s girlfriend told him that he had already left.
“So we are setting the time of the accident at about 8:30 a.m.,” Smith said.
Units, including some from the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, were looking for Raabe’s car. By about 10:30 a.m., Smith said, the water had subsided enough that they could spot the trunk lid on Raabe’s 2006 Ford Taurus, which had been swept to the right of that northbound stretch of Fox Road.
The key was not in the ignition and the car had been put in park, Smith said, indicating that Raabe had presence of mind as the incident was occurring. They feel that if he had a heart attack, he would not have done those things. The body was recovered in the backseat.
The trooper said that he surmises what happened was that the engine stalled out.
“He was old enough and experienced enough to know that he couldn’t keep trying to start the engine,” Smith said.
They believe he tried to get out the passenger side door or escape through the trunk. (That car model has a folding back seat.) The driver’s side window was also down.
The water pushed the car into a deeper area, Smith said.
The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office called on help from the Longview Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Crew, as well as divers from the ALERT Academy at Big Sandy. The body was recovered at about 3:06 p.m., and Raabe was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:10 p.m. by Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Lyle Potter.
The body was taken to Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer. An autopsy has been ordered to establish cause of death.
Smith said that the heavy rains washed some roadways away in the county, and many others had water over the middle of the road, especially in the northwest section of the county.
Heavy rains fell in parts of the county. Bill Starnes, who lives near the south side of Lake Gilmer, said he measured five inches in his rain gauge.
The automated weather station at the Gilmer airport recorded 4.81 inches.
There were no major damages reported from storms, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Dispatcher said. Several roads, in addition to Fox Road, were closed because of high waters.
“There were almost two more” high-water victims, but they got out, Smith said.
Authorities urge drivers not to attempt to drive through roads which are under water.
The victim was identified as Alois “Al” Otto Raabe, 78, who lived on Gorilla Road near Simpsonville.
According to Department of Public Safety Trooper Walt Smith, who investigated, Raabe left home at about 8:20 a.m. Sunday to pick up his nephew, who lived nearby, to go to church. When he had not arrived at the nephew’s by 8:40, the nephew called Raabe’s house. Raabe’s girlfriend told him that he had already left.
“So we are setting the time of the accident at about 8:30 a.m.,” Smith said.
Units, including some from the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office, were looking for Raabe’s car. By about 10:30 a.m., Smith said, the water had subsided enough that they could spot the trunk lid on Raabe’s 2006 Ford Taurus, which had been swept to the right of that northbound stretch of Fox Road.
The key was not in the ignition and the car had been put in park, Smith said, indicating that Raabe had presence of mind as the incident was occurring. They feel that if he had a heart attack, he would not have done those things. The body was recovered in the backseat.
The trooper said that he surmises what happened was that the engine stalled out.
“He was old enough and experienced enough to know that he couldn’t keep trying to start the engine,” Smith said.
They believe he tried to get out the passenger side door or escape through the trunk. (That car model has a folding back seat.) The driver’s side window was also down.
The water pushed the car into a deeper area, Smith said.
The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office called on help from the Longview Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Crew, as well as divers from the ALERT Academy at Big Sandy. The body was recovered at about 3:06 p.m., and Raabe was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:10 p.m. by Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Lyle Potter.
The body was taken to Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer. An autopsy has been ordered to establish cause of death.
Smith said that the heavy rains washed some roadways away in the county, and many others had water over the middle of the road, especially in the northwest section of the county.
Heavy rains fell in parts of the county. Bill Starnes, who lives near the south side of Lake Gilmer, said he measured five inches in his rain gauge.
The automated weather station at the Gilmer airport recorded 4.81 inches.
There were no major damages reported from storms, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Dispatcher said. Several roads, in addition to Fox Road, were closed because of high waters.
“There were almost two more” high-water victims, but they got out, Smith said.
Authorities urge drivers not to attempt to drive through roads which are under water.
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comments (1)
« Friend of Al wrote on Tuesday, May 12 at 04:33 PM »
Al was a great man, funniest guy I probably have ever met, and he definetely lived life to the fullest. He will be missed, prayers for family and friends of Al.