Heavy rainfall overnight caused flash flooding in Albemarle County, mudslides that have closed Route 33 at Swift Run Gap, and swept away a vehicle and its two occupants.
At approximately 9:30 p.m. Wednesday there was a flash flood of Ivy Creek in Albemarle County, and a vehicle and its two occupants, a man and a woman, went missing near the intersection of Old Ballard Road and Martin Farm Lane. A Silver Toyota Prius was observed being swept away in flood waters with its two occupants outside their vehicle and in the water.
A second vehicle was also swept away, but its single occupant was rescued from the water.
Around 2 a.m. Thursday, a swift water rescue team from the Lynchburg Fire Department arrived to work with local emergency responders to help locate the missing persons. Residents in the area with any information on the missing subjects should contact the Emergency Operations Center at (434) 979-INFO or (434) 979-4636. The search is still in progress.
Overnight flood waters damaged a water supply line that serves the U.S. Route 29 North area for Albemarle County Service Authority public drinking water customers. Crews are on site for repairs to the water line at the South Fork Rivanna River crossing. Customers may experience water pressure and/or water outage issues. At this time there are no water quality concerns.
VDOT is reporting that Route 33 over Swift Run Gap is closed in Greene and Rockingham counties due to mudslides on the mountain pass after torrential downpours drenched the area all night. Crews are working to clear the slides and reopen the road but it is likely there will be a lengthy closure.
Numerous secondary roads are closed in Greene, Madison and Albemarle counties. VDOT crews will reopen the roads as the water recedes and the roads are safe for travel. The National Weather Service is estimating between seven and nine inches of rain fell in the western areas of those counties along the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Drivers should check www.511virginia.org or the 511 mobile app for updated information about the road closures and follow @VaDOTCULP on Twitter for updates.
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Chris Graham
