Search for Warren resident continues in violent waters

Heavy rain and continually rising flood waters are hindering the search of a woman who was passenger in a vehicle submerged in rapidly flowing waters early Sunday morning in Bradley County.



Rescue personnel and volunteers from Bradley, Drew, Jefferson and Ashley counties have gathered since approximately 5 a.m. Sunday and fought violently rushing waters near the Flat Branch Creek overpass, approximately ½ mile east of the Hwy. 278 West Saline River Bridge.

While the area surrounding the creek is rarely flooded, its current is violent and continues to rise with the ongoing rains in southeast Arkansas, preventing divers on the scene from searching for the missing car and victim, who was identified as LaTasha L. Strong, 32, of Warren, by her her father, Jeff Strong of Banks. Strong’s family has gathered along the highway and awaited word, hovered under umbrellas near a pile of plastic car pieces that were recovered Sunday.

While magnets have picked up signals in the vicinity south of the bridge, the waters are too dangerous for divers to search, drastically affecting a full-scale search.

At one point Sunday afternoon, a boat carrying rescue workers and volunteers was shoved by the violently flowing water and crashed into trees, overturning the boat; the searchers were able to cling to trees and were not injured.

According to the victim’s family, Strong was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Tyrone Gilliam, also of Bradley County, in the westbound lane when the vehicle left the road and drove into the flooded area of the creek. Gilliam was able to escape the vehicle and was transported to Bradley County Medical Center where he was treated for minor injuries.

Arkansas State Police Sgt. Gary Gambill said Monday that the ASP is assisting with the highway’s traffic flow in areas of the search and remains on the scene; however, a complete investigation is stalled until the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office recovers Strong and the vehicle. “We were dispatched to the wreck, but until Ms. Strong or the vehicle is recovered, we cannot proceed with any information other than an initial report of the accident.