Elderly Alton couple dies after flash flooding incident

ALTON, Ill. – Flash flooding from Tuesday’s heavy rain claimed the lives of an elderly Alton couple in Jersey County.

Jersey County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call a little before 12 p.m. Tuesday from a 70-year-old man who said he was trapped in his car due to flash floodwaters on Beltrees Road, east of Fessler Road, near Mill Creek.

During the call, the man mentioned that there was a second vehicle behind him that was trapped and that there was an elderly man in the water outside the vehicle.

Upon arrival, police found the caller on the top of his vehicle and the second vehicle was completely submerged in water. The caller told authorities that he saw the elderly man trying to swim in the water.

The Jersey County Sheriff’s Department reports that an 88-year-old woman’s body was found dead inside the submerged vehicle after the water level began to decrease.

A little after 3:30 p.m., police later found the body of an 88-year-old man about a quarter mile away along the Bank of Mill Creek.

It was later determined that the two victims were husband and wife.

The man who reported the incident was rescued from the top of his vehicle when authorities arrived on the scene.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN Radio 720 - Chicago's Very Own.