Authorities have identified the body found this morning (July 2) along Buck Creek south of Festus as Sarah Barrett, 35, of De Soto, says Sgt. Al Nothum of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Her body was found at about 11 a.m. today during the search for possible victims of last night’s flash flooding, Nothum said.
Barrett had been driving a maroon Buick last night and apparently got swept away in the flash flooding, he said.
Nothum said authorities had not found the vehicle by 2:20 p.m. today, but they believe no one else was in the car.
He said Barrett’s father was notified and Barrett's body was transported from the scene.
Nothum said at around 2:40 p.m. that emergency crews were still looking for one to three more possible victims.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is searching for Angela R. Kirby, 50, of Festus, who was reported missing at 3:10 a.m. today. Her GMC Safari van has been located near Buck Creek Road and authorities believe it was swept off the road during last night’s storm.
Anyone with information about Kirby’s whereabouts or anyone who knows someone who was in the area around Buck Creek Road last night who is unaccounted for today is asked to call the Jefferson County 911 Dispatch at 636-797-9999.
Nothum said about 150 men and women are involved in the search, including about 100 firefighters from 16 departments, about 50 members of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and about 20 Missouri State High Patrol troopers.