Search on for missing person with more rain to come

By Alexandria Randolph

Forecasts show more rain for the area after the Highland Lakes received on Wednesday, Sept. 17, just under four inches and the Austin area a total of 6.01 inches, creating high-water incidents in which a law enforcement officer has gone missing.

A Travis County deputy remains missing after heavy rains caused flash flooding in the Austin area. The deputy was reported to have been checking a low water crossing in the 3400 block of Fritz Hughes Park Road when she made a call to dispatch at 1:52 a.m. to say that she and her vehicle were being swept away in high water.

As of Thursday afternoon, Sept. 18, Travis County authorities have located her vehicle, a patrol sedan but not the deputy, who has not been named.

“We’ve got a lot of volunteers out there and Texas Search and Rescue,” said Roger Wade, Travis County Public Information Officer. “We’re searching the area between her car and the lake. Her vehicle was located submerged in rushing water 200 yards downstream from the low water crossing.”

Wade said the vehicle was found just after 2 a.m. Thursday morning, and since then, deputies and volunteers have been methodically searching the brush along the creek.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for Burnet, Llano and Travis Counties through Thursday evening, as widespread rainfall was expected to reach up to two inches, with isolated areas receiving between three to five inches. 

For the full story, see Friday's Highlander.