A married couple volunteering as poll workers in Missouri were tragically killed Tuesday in flash flooding that rocked the southern and eastern parts of the state on Election Day, local officials said.
Missouri State Highway Patrol Sergeant Eddie Young told FOX News Digital that one of three cars swept off the road by rising floodwaters on state Route H in Wright County around 4 a.m. Tuesday. A 73-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman were on board.
“The other three people swam to safety,” Young said.
Witnesses reported seeing the couple, who were on their way to the polling station, also tried to swim to safety, clinging to bushes, but were ultimately unable to survive the rising waters.
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On Tuesday, a Missouri couple was killed in a flash flood while driving to the polls. (MSHP Troop G)
It took authorities hours to find the body. Young said they were eventually able to fly a drone over the area and find the dead.
The Wright County Sheriff's Office confirmed the two deaths in a statement Tuesday.
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“Hydroplaning and flooding in areas that normally wouldn't flood caused several vehicles to slide off. There were six whitewater accidents in Wright County, resulting in two fatalities,” the sheriff's office said. . “The two deceased individuals were quickly recovered using a Wright County drone operated by Sheriff Byerly.”
It took authorities hours to find the body. They were eventually able to fly a drone over the affected area and find the dead. (MSHP Troop G)
The Wright County Clerk's Office said in a statement Tuesday that the poll workers were “dedicated residents who value fair and honest elections” and that they “will be sorely missed.”
“This couple were wonderful people who gave their time to the community.”
“This is a terrible loss for Wright County,” Wright County Clerk Loni Pedersen said in a statement. “This couple were wonderful people who dedicated their time to serving the community. We will deeply miss them and the service they provided to my office.”
In a photo released by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a submerged tractor-trailer sits in floodwaters on U.S. Highway 63 just north of Kabul, Missouri, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Missouri State Highway Patrol, via AP)
According to Missouri officials, five people, including a married couple, were killed in the flooding.
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Young described the current situation as a “once-in-a-decade flood” and said it was “pretty widespread” and that evacuations were still ongoing.
Authorities are not releasing the victim's name, citing respect for the family and privacy.
