Missing Woman Found Dead after Crash into Sweetwater Creek

Atlanta has been hit by heavy rains the past few days. Sadly, it seems those rains claimed the life of a woman in Paulding County. The AJC reports.

The victim had to drive through the rain at 3:30 AM to get to work at a Douglas County convenience store. When she didn’t make it and didn’t respond for several hours, a missing persons report was filed.

Her family went out to look for her. A little over 12 hours after she left for work, police received a 911 call that led to the worst. Pieces of the victim’s Mercedes was found floating in a creek near Friendship Church Road in Douglasville.

Investigators believe the car ran off the road and into the creek, which was flooded by the rains. Police and rescuers found the car sunk 20 feet below the high water with the victim inside. An autopsy is underway to determine the cause of death.

Driving through heavy rain is dangerous. It’s easy to go too fast for conditions and start sliding, a condition known as hydroplaning. It’s just like sliding on ice, only with a big car rather than your feet. If you must drive in heavy rain, go slow and never drive into water that’s over six inches deep. Even such a small amount of water can make your car float with the current.