Victims identified in early morning flooding incident

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SPECIAL TO THE FLASH FROM THE ERATH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Tragedy struck Erath County and the community Energy in Comanche County today as a result of high rushing water.  Erath County received a thunderstorm overnight that released several inches of rainfall over an extended period of time.  The large quantity of rainfall that was received filled up ditches and low water crossings very quickly which in some instances caused the water to cross over the roadway and making them unsafe to pass.

Today Wednesday the 24th day of April 2019 at approximately 5:37 am the Erath County Sheriff’s office received a call of a vehicle that had crossed into high water and was swept away.  The location of the incident was approximately three miles south of Dublin on FM 1702 in Erath County Texas.  When first responders arrived on scene the creek had exceeded its banks and the water was moving at a high rate of speed. This also caused the water to cross over the roadway.

The vehicle involved in the incident is a Blue 2006 Volkswagen Jetta driven by Gerardo Ramirez of Energy Texas.  Also, in the vehicle were Mr. Ramirez’s wife identified as Monica Valdez and Ramirez’s two minor children.   

Crews from the Somervell County Fire Department along with fire units from Proctor, Dublin and Erath County arrived and started the search. Assisting in the search were the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Wardens with the use of a tracking dog, Dublin Police Department, Erath County Sheriff’s office, Somervell County Sheriff’s Office and numerous neighbors who lived close to the scene.  

Mr. Ramirez was rescued close to the scene and has since been treated at the hospital and released.  Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 Judge Bart Greenway arrived on scene and pronounced Valdez and the two minor children deceased at the scene.  Valdez was located inside the vehicle.  The two minor children were located downstream from the vehicle.  Valdez and the two minor children will be transported to the Tarrant County Medical Examiners office for an autopsy which is standard procedure for this type of investigation.  

The investigation is ongoing and being conducted by the Erath County Sheriff’s Office.  Details about the investigation will be made available as soon as possible.

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