Photo: Steve Helber/AP/REX/Shutterstock
On Tuesday night, two Horry County sheriffs were transporting two mental-health patients to medical facilities in Florence and Darlington when floodwaters overtook the van and carried it off of the road, the department said in a statement. The deputies tried to rescue the women, but they could not open the doors to the vehicle as the waters surged.
Steve Helber/AP/REX/Shutterstock
As of Thursday morning, the van could not be retrieved from the area due to flood waters. HCSO identified the two patients to PEOPLE as Windy Newton, 45, of Shallotte, North Carolina, and Nicolette Green, 43, of Myrtle Beach. Their bodies were recovered on Wednesday.
The van was traveling in the area of the Little Pee Dee River, whichCBS Newssays is a body of water officials in South Carolina have been keeping watch on for flooding following the heavy rains of Florence.
“Just like you, we have questions we want answered,” the department said on Tuesday. “We are fully cooperating with the State Law Enforcement Division to support their investigation of this event.”
The department is working with the State Law Enforcement Division in an investigation into the incident. There will also be two other inquiries, including a traffic investigation and an internal investigation, they said.
Thompson says the two rescued deputies have been placed on administrative leave.
Nearly 40 people have died as a result of Hurricane Florence, latest numbers fromCBS Newsreveal. Nearly 343,000 people are still without power in North Carolina.
With Reporting From Char Adams
source: people.com
