Monroe woman missing after car swept away
By Allyson Dix
Government Community News
Emergency crews and volunteers are actively searching for a Gamaliel woman after floodwaters swept her car away into East Fork Creek.
Leah Carter was traveling on Lyons Road in Monroe County on Dec. 31, 2018 when local dispatch received a 911 call from her stating her vehicle was being swept away by water on a flooded bridge. Throughout the night, Fire and Rescue and Law Enforcement personnel searched for Carter.
Her vehicle was found the next morning around 5:30 AM, unoccupied, 500-yards downstream from the bridge after floodwaters decreased by 10-feet.
Emergency personnel are actively searching the area by land, water, and air with Monroe County Emergency Management leading the search and rescue efforts.
As Wednesday at 12:00 PM noon, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office told the Barren County Progress attempts to locate Carter have been unsuccessful. Dogs from Logan County and Indiana were deployed on Wednesday morning according to MCSO that returned no findings in the recovery effort.
The citizens in Monroe County community have continually shared in search efforts and have organized teams that are providing food and water for those who are actively searching for her.
According to a Kentucky State Police press release, the Gamaliel Fire Department, along with fire departments from Summer Shade, Campbellsville, Taylor County, and Barren County are assisting to locate Carter. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department is leading the investigation with assistance from the Tompkinsville Police Department and the Kentucky State Police. However, there are reports of many more agencies from other departments in Kentucky and Tennessee who are assisting in the search and rescue efforts.
Gamaliel Fire Department has vehicles have spilled out of the parking lot onto the roads as many gather in the community and outside the small community, to help in the recovery of Leah Carter, Gamaliel, after her car was swept into East Fork Creek on December 31. Photo/Karen Gibson.
I pray that God intervenes and a miracle happens for this sweet girl. I am from Monroe County; but have lived in Lexington many years. My sister works with Leah. She is a sweet lady. I pray for her to be found safe. This is a very unusual tragedy for Monroe County. There was an extreme amount of rainfall in a short period of time to raise the creek 10 feet. Having grown up in the county, I can say, I do not remember many rainfall’s flooding the creeks to this level. Leah’s family, coworkers, community, churches and all residents are praying for Leah and her family. God Bless.