Trees downed by high winds smashed a car parked along the north side of Tower Grove Park, after overnight storms in the Southwest Garden neighborhood of St. Louis, which was left with a power outage, shown Saturday morning, July 10, 2021. A neighborhood resident said that during the storm it felt like her roof was being lifted off. Photo by Michael Hamtil, mhamtil@post-dispatch.com
Neighbors marvel at a massive tree that was brought down by high winds on a street just west of Tower Grove Park, after overnight storms in the Southwest Garden neighborhood of St. Louis, which was left without power on Saturday, July 10, 2021. The property owner, Dr. Heidi Sandige, second from right, came home to the damage after working overnight. “This was a beautiful tree. Probably the oldest tree in the neighborhood except for the Botanical Garden. It was a draw for the property,” she said. Photo by Michael Hamtil, mhamtil@post-dispatch.com
A downed power line and pole snapped in half are seen in a neighborhood without power just west of Tower Grove Park, after overnight storms in the Southwest Garden area of St. Louis, on Saturday, July 10, 2021. Photo by Michael Hamtil, mhamtil@post-dispatch.com
A tree limb damaged preschool playground equipment at Kirkwood United Methodist Church at Clay and Washington avenues in Kirkwood when heavy winds moved through the region early Saturday, July 10, 2021. Photo by Kim Bell, kbell@post-dispatch.com
UPDATED at 11 a.m. Saturday with authorities reporting a 12-year-old child was swept away by floodwaters.
ST. LOUIS — A powerful overnight storm knocked down trees and utility lines, brought flash flooding to some areas of the St. Louis region and was followed by public safety officials warning of another round of damaging winds and thunderstorms later Saturday.
A 12-year-old girl was swept away by floodwaters when she was trying to exit a vehicle she was riding in, according to Missouri Highway Patrol Cpl. Juston Wheetley. Crews are still searching for the girl, he said, and “hoping for the best, but expecting the worst.”
The vehicle she was in was traveling eastbound on Interstate 70 near St. Louis Lambert International Airport about 1:30 a.m. Saturday, he said. When the driver attempted to make a U-turn and navigate Air Flight Drive, the car was caught in a current. It was swept into a large concrete storm drain, Wheetley said. Two other children and the woman driving the car were able to exit safely, he said, but he was not sure if they were injured.
As the 12-year-old attempted to exit the car with them, she was swept into the storm drain.
Several other vehicles attempted to drive through the floodwaters and were stalled, Wheetley said. No Missouri highways were flooded as of 10 a.m.
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