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A St. Louis family is devastated by the death of their little one by a freak act of nature.
The clan was driving on Missouri’s Interstate 70 when they began to experience severe flash flooding that reportedly caused their car to be swept away by rushing water. KDSK reported that Aaleya Carter, 12, was reportedly taken by the water, swept into a nearby storm drain, and later discovered dead in Coldwater Creek. The body of water is a north St. Louis County tributary that flows into the Missouri River.
According to the outlet, a Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman said that the car’s driver and their other two children were able to get out of the car successfully.
The spokesman stated that the family came across the flood early on Saturday morning, at around 1:30 AM, KSDK reported. Aaleya’s body was unfortunately found later that afternoon. Her mother, Bridgette Carter, told KMOV4 about the tragedy, “I don’t even know. I’m lost. I don’t know what to say,”
Volunteers began searching nearby for the St. Louis preteen following the Saturday incident. According to KSDK, Missouri 1st District Congresswoman Cori Bush also joined in on the search, hoping to locate the young girl.
Aaleya’s grandmother Tonya Carter spoke with KDSK, saying, “Instead of them being able to get out on the driver’s side, they had to get out on the passenger’s side. I guess they didn’t know they were on top of the drainage ditch, and when she got out, she slid right inside the drainage,”
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According to KMOV4, the 12-year-old’s mother decided to organize a small memorial for her daughter on Sunday, returning to Coldwater Creek to release pink and silver balloons, which Bridgette told the outlet was Aaleya’s favorite colors.
Our hearts go out to the Carter family during this unimaginable time.