Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Latest on two women who died in South Carolina floodwaters (all times local):
6:45 p.m.
Authorities in South Carolina have recovered the bodies of two women who drowned when the van taking them to a mental health facility was swept away by floodwaters.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division spokesman Thom Berry said the bodies of 45-year-old Windy Newton and 43-year-old Nicolette Green were removed from the van Wednesday evening.
Horry County Sheriff Phillip Thompson says the women died Tuesday night when two of his deputies taking them to a mental health facility under court order drove into high water. Thompson says the van submerged and the deputies weren't able to save the women from the back.
Responders decided it wasn't safe to try to retrieve the women's bodies from the van Tuesday night because of darkness.
The incident is under investigation and the deputies are on administrative leave.
___
8 a.m.
Two women have drowned when a van was swept away in rising South Carolina floodwaters.
Horry County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Brooke Holden says a sheriff's office van was carrying two detainees and two deputies to Darlington Tuesday night when it was overtaken by flood waters.
Officials say the van was near the Little Pee Dee River, one of the bodies of water state officials are watching following the heavy rains of Florence.
Marion County Coroner Jerry Richardson confirmed to The Associated Press the victims were female. Their names have not been released.
Holden says deputies tried to get the detainees out but couldn't. Rescue teams plucked the deputies from the top of the van.
State police are investigating.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
