Two Adults and a Child Killed when Tree Crushes Their SUV

Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp declared a Local State of Emergency on Tuesday evening in response to flash flooding after the area experienced more than six inches of rain in a matter of hours.

” We have been in communication with both TEMA and the Governor’s Office and will continue to assess damage overnight and into the morning,” Mayor Wamp said in a statement. “We ask the public to please exercise extreme caution.”

Portions of Ringgold Road were completely impassable as water stood several feet in the roadway. Authorities said fallen tree debris blocked the eastbound lanes in the 6700 block of Ringgold Road. Police cleared the left lane and marked the right lane with signs for the street department to remove in the morning.

Interstate 24 between Belvoir Avenue and Spring Creek Road was inundated with three feet of water. The busy interstate was shut down by authorities as motorists were helpless and about 60 cars were stranded.

According to police, multiple residences were evacuated due to severe flooding in the area. A shelter was established at the Brainerd Community Center, and transportation was provided by the CARTA Bus line. Officers transported displaced citizens to Police/Fire Headquarters, where they were then transferred to the shelter.  

Many neighborhoods in the city experienced flooded basements with water flowing over yards.

Late Tuesday evening, after several storms and flash flooding affected parts of the county, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Swiftwater Rescue Team, comprised of deputies and personnel from Emergency Management (HCEMA), joined with Swiftwater Rescue technicians with the Catoosa County Fire Department and East Ridge Fire and Police personnel to rescue residents trapped by rising flood waters in the 1600 block of Maxwell Street.

According to the HCSO, the occupants of three houses were not able to leave their homes due to rising flood waters and swiftwater rescue personnel helped assist them into inflatable boats to safety.

As the flood waters receded, East Ridge Police Chief Clint Uselton said that two adults and a child were killed when a tree crushed the SUV they were traveling in. On Wednesday afternoon, officials identified the victims as Yuri Tomas Vicente Lopez, 29; Giomara Epifania Vasquez, 27; and three-year old Emma Vicente. 

Chief Uselton said the incident happened on South Moore Road near Fike Drive at about midnight. East Ridge Traffic Investigators are investigating the crash. 

The tree that crushed the SUV crashed onto power lines, causing South Moore Road to lose power from the 1100 block to Ringgold Road.  The traffic signal at the intersection of Ringgold Road and South Moore is currently inoperable due to a lack of power.

According to the National Weather Service, 6.4 inches of rain was recorded at the airport, marking the second highest one-day total in history. That number was exceeded only by the 9.4 inches on September 5, 2011, from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee.

Wednesday’s forecast is calling for more rain, and a flood watch is in effect until 8:45 p.m. tonight.