Tragedy struck in Pennsylvania over the weekend when a flash flood spilled out into the streets, sweeping away cars and filling houses. When the sudden downpour hit, 11 cars were caught in the torrent of water while standing on the General Washington Memorial Boulevard.

The death toll currently stands at five, although a few people are still missing. Among those who lost their lives in the unexpected flood is 32-year-old Katie Seley, a South Carolina mom who was visiting relatives with her family when the unexpected happened.

While Katie lost her life, her husband, Jim Sheils, their oldest son, Jack, 4, and her 62-year-old mother, Dahlia, luckily survived the flood. Although three of the family members are safe, Katie and her mother were trying to get the other two children, Mattie and Conrad, to safety when the flood grabbed hold of them.

While the family has refrained from speaking to the press directly, they have asked a spokesperson to communicate on their behalf to explain what happened. The spokesperson explained that the family visiting family and friends in Pennsylvania, making their way to a barbeque when the torrent of water hit them out of the blue.

Luckily, the grandmother managed to pull herself out of the furious flow of water and was treated at a local hospital shortly afterward. Search teams showed up shortly after the flood started and recovered Katie’s body in the wreckage left behind by the flash storm. Tragically, the family’s other two children weren’t found yet.

How a Vacation Turned into a Nightmare
Katie, her husband, their three kids, and Katie’s mom were spending some time with relatives when the flash flood struck without warning. The family was in their car when the water spilled through the streets, and Jim had to act fast. He managed to get his oldest son to safety while his wife and mother-in-law tried to grab the other two kids.

The family also thanked the community for their unwavering support, noting that it has helped them remain strong during this difficult time.

While Katie’s mom also made it out of the rushing water, the mother-of-three couldn’t get to safety in time, and she and her two children were washed away in the flood. Shortly after, Katie’s body was found, having passed away in the deluge. Search teams had to comb through the wreckage left by the flood.

The family elaborated on the incident, explaining that the water came out of nowhere and caught the everyone entirely off guard. They made it clear that they never drove into a street filled with water. Instead, the flood rushed around them while they were simply driving along, sweeping around the car and almost carrying them all away.