Flash floods kill at least three in Texas, three children still missing

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) _ Flash floods killed at least three people, sweeping one woman from a rescuer's hand, as heavy thunderstorms rolled across North Texas, and three toddlers were still missing

Saturday, May 1st 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) _ Flash floods killed at least three people, sweeping one woman from a rescuer's hand, as heavy thunderstorms rolled across North Texas, and three toddlers were still missing Saturday.

The storms struck late Friday with wind gusting to as high as 60 mph that knocked down tree limbs and power lines. Hail as big as golf balls pounded some areas, the National Weather Service said.

A woman and her 2 1/2-year-old son died when a flood swept her car off a low-water crossing in Fort Worth, Fire Department Lt. Kent Worley said. Firefighters were searching for the woman's 1 1/2-year-old son, who relatives said should also have been with her.

Worley said the woman apparently had stopped at the crossing but decide to drive through after a van passed her and made it safely across.

``She was immediately caught up in the water,'' he said. Her car was swept down a drainage ditch that empties into Sycamore Creek, and was caught in trees about 75 to 100 yards downstream.

Johnny Campbell, 22, wrapped a tow chain around his waist and had three people hold it as he waded through waist-deep water toward the car.

``I saw her banging on the window and screaming for someone to help her,'' Campbell told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. ``When I got to the car, I touched her hand, but water swept the car away, down into the creek.''

In Corsicana, about 50 miles southeast of Dallas, a vehicle stalled on a low-water crossing was swept away along with two children, ages 1 and 2, police Sgt. Lewis Palos said. Their father was trying to get them out when the water carried the vehicle away, he said.

Also in Corsicana, rushing water swept a vehicle against a guard rail on a small bridge. The driver and passenger both got out, but the passenger was swept away. His body was found Saturday, Palos said.