East Texas Flash Flood Kills Great-Grandmother and 4 Children

Torrential rains pounded East Texas on Saturday, and six people tragically lost their lives, including a great-grandmother and four school-age children. Suggested Reading Three Friends Were Headed To A Beyoncรฉ Concert, But One Dies On the Way. Guess What The Other Two Did Next? Our Fave Moments From A$AP Rocky’s Fashion Show During Paris Men’s…

Torrential rains pounded East Texas on Saturday, and six people tragically lost their lives, including a great-grandmother and four school-age children.

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The downpour forced residents to wade through water up to their chins after rain swamped a cul-de-sac of homes during the night and forced some onto rooftops. In less than an hour, more than 7 inches of rain had accumulated at the city's water treatment plant, according to ABC News.

The bodies of 64-year-old Lenda Asberry and her great-grandchildrenโ€”6-year-old Jamonicka Johnson, 7-year-old Von Anthony Johnson Jr., 8-year-old Devonte Asberry and 9-year-old Venetia Asberryโ€”were found in the receding waters of Palestine,ย Texas.

According to NBC 5, Palestine Police received reports that the family was missing around 3:45 a.m. The bodies of two children were found in the front yard of a residence near their street. A continued search found the bodies of an adult female and two more children.

โ€œShe had all four kids trying to lift them up out the water. I don't know how she was doing it,โ€ said Asberryโ€™s son, Doniell Hudnall, to NBC5.

Hudnall said that Asberry was the legal guardian of all four children.

Authorities found a sixth body later on Saturday, identified as 30-year-old Giovani Olivas of Palestine.

Read more at ABC and NBC 5.

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