Missing Flood Victim Found From Harford County Storm: Police

BEL AIR, MD — A woman swept up in the flash flood near Bel Air Friday night has been located, police said. Her body was found on Monday afternoon in the water, according to Maryland State Police.

Melissa Anne Lehew, 34, of Darlington, was identified as the deceased, police reported.

Police said a civilian found Lehew's body around 1 p.m. Monday in the water were searchers had concentrated their efforts. Divers had been looking on Sunday in the Churchville Quarry but suspended their efforts before nightfall after two of the divers required medical treatment, officials reported. Investigators said the search continued in the area Monday.

• Divers Helicoptered From Harford Flood Search: Police
• Victim IDed In Harford Flood, Search To Resume Sunday: Police
• Photos Of Harford County Flash Flood Damage From 2018 Storm
• Crews Initially Search For 3 Missing In Harford County Flash Flood: Police

Lehew had been missing since around 6 p.m. Friday, when she went over the Broad Run bridge on Route 136/Calvary Road at James Run Road, officials said.

When Lehew got swept up in the flood waters, she had been trying to help the driver of a vehicle submerged on the bridge, according to police.

Based on witness accounts, police said that a truck pulled up with a man and woman who tried to assist with a rope.

Lehew, who also went by the name Elizabeth, was "one of the best people you'd ever meet," her boyfriend Kyle Bowman told WJZ.

Bowman, who was driving the truck, said Lehew was holding onto a pole near the guard rail and he was holding onto a tree or a bush as he tried to pull her up but she couldn't hold on as swift water swept her off the bridge.

Lehew was "selfless," her boyfriend told Fox DC.

Bowman reportedly drove to a nearby quarry to search for her and notified first responders. Officials said as he was alerting authorities, the disabled vehicle also got carried away off the bridge.

Daniel Samis, 67, of Abingdon, was found deceased on Saturday morning, officials reported. He had been in the sedan that got carried by the flood waters, according to investigators.

The discovery of Lehew's body Monday afternoon came when she had been missing for nearly three days.

Authorities suspended the search for Lehew Sunday night after two divers were flown to shock trauma. The divers were taken by medevac for treatment after they had to quickly surface from the quarry, where conditions are volatile, WJZ reported.

"Visibility is almost nothing," Maryland State Police spokesman Ron Snyder told WJZ, adding the area where they were searching in the Churchville Quarry was at least 45 to 50-feet deep.

Once her body was found Monday, officials said it was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy.

Stay on top of the latest developments. Get news alerts from Harford County Patches.

Image via Shutterstock.

BREAKING: Woman missing after flooding in HarCo Friday ID’d as Melissa Anne Lehew, 34, of Darlington. Her boyfriend says she went by Elizabeth. #WJZ pic.twitter.com/ZRIiCGjWV9
— Devin Bartolotta (@WJZDevin) September 2, 2018