Deputy missing in Texas flooding

AUSTIN, Texas — Inclement weather made rescue crews in Central Texas suspend the search for a sheriff’s deputy who radioed for help minutes before her empty patrol car was found submerged by floodwaters, while heavy rains in West Texas caused dozens of streets and some houses to flood.

Roger Wade, a spokesman for the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, said the search would resume this morning. “We were searching all day and we will continue searching until we find something,” he added.

The National Weather Service forecasts more heavy rain through Saturday over much of West Texas, with flash flood watches extending through tonight. The rain was to continue through today in Southeast Texas, where flash flood watches were to expire this morning.

Wade said the deputy was checking low-water crossings during storms. She radioed shortly before 2 a.m. Thursday, saying her vehicle was being washed away in an Austin-area subdivision.

“We believe she was swept into the low-water crossing by water going down the street,” said Wade, who identified the deputy only as a seven-year veteran of the department.

Rainfall from remnants of Hurricane Odile pelted parts of the U.S. Southwest, including in Texas from El Paso to Houston. In Plainview, about 45 miles north of Lubbock, 4 1/2 inches of rain was reported over 24 hours ending at 2 p.m. Thursday.

Heavy rain also caused flooding in far West Texas, where a portion of Interstate 10 remained closed for several hours Wednesday night and fire crews responded to more than 100 weather-related calls.