Officials say several cars were sitting traffic in the area of Austin Highway and Perrin Beitel when water came rushing in.
SAN ANTONIO — UPDATE: City officials reported Friday that five more bodies were found in the floodwaters, bringing the death toll to 10. Crews are searching for at least four more missing people. See latest updates here.
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Five people have been found dead and more rescued from trees rising out of high water in northeast San Antonio, according to officials—a devastating result of overnight storms that dumped upwards of 6 inches in parts of the city.
The identities of the victims have yet to be released by local authorities and as many as three remain unaccounted for.
Crews with the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD) have spent hours sifting through the wreckage off Austin Highway and Perrin Beitel Road. That area – as well as the vehicles that had been sitting in traffic backup – was overtaken by rushing water Thursday morning.
Two men and two women were among those found dead. Details about the fifth haven’t been provided.
At least one of the bodies was located near Perrin Beitel and Loop 410, while another was recovered on Briar Glen. Officials called the rescues in this area “extremely difficult” and “harrowing,” with first responders having to contend with fast-moving water to get people to safety.
The initial call came in just after 5 a.m. at the Briar Glen Trailhead near Perrin Beitel and Austin Highway where, according to SAFD officials, those swept away had been sitting in traffic due to a stalled car on a nearby backup road when the water suddenly came rushing in.
Officials believe that all of the people rescued or located were initially in their cars, but by the time emergency crews arrived they had ended up in trees.
PHOTOS: San Antonio first responders sift through the deadly wreckage of a flooded roadway
Fifteen cars were washed away and 10 people were rescued, according to SAPD Chief McManus. Four people were taken to the hospital for “minor injuries.” Several cars were seen crushed, ruined or flipped over completely in the water as crews started recovery efforts.
Families have been left wondering if their loved ones are in the wreckage. Authorities said they can call (210) 207-4817 to try and find them if they believe they were involved.
One of the victims was identified as a 77-year-old woman. Her name has not yet been released.
One woman, Angel Richards, said her husband Stevie was on his way to work when he called to say he was caught in the flood waters.
“It’s hard because I was on the phone when this happened, and then not to have a lot of communication, to see my car, it’s devastating to me,” Richards said. “No one can say to me, ‘Hey, this is what’s going on.'”
Another said she was on the phone with 28-year-old Victor Macias when she heard a loud crashing noise.
“He says, ‘I love you, Jackie, I love you,’ then a crash and the call cuts off. (Then) I call 9-1-1 and all that.”
People off of Austin Highway were seen climbing trees to get out from the wreckage, witnesses say.
Perrin Beitel from Vicar to Austin Highway is back open as of 6:20 p.m. after crews recovered the vehicles.
Dozens of rescues
The toll and strength of the morning floods is conveyed through the number of water rescues conducted during and in the aftermath.
From midnight through 4:45 p.m. Thursday, the fire department said they had responded to 70 calls for rescues and 16 others for “high-water investigations.”
