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Arkansas boy, 11, gets sucked into storm drain and dies after flash floods ravage region

A 47-year-old woman who tried to save the boy was also swept away but later rescued

BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS: An 11-year-old boy died in Arkansas after being dragged down a storm drain by surging water brought on by flash floods. The incident happened close to Bentonville in northwest Arkansas on Monday, August 29. In a subsequent statement, Corporal Adam McInnis of the Bentonville Police Department reported that the youngster accidentally slipped into the water and the current swept him under. A 47-year-old woman who tried to save the boy was also swept away in the water.

Bentonville Fire and police units arrived on the site around 5.30 pm on Monday. They swiftly rescued the woman after discovering her in the storm drain. She was taken to a neighboring hospital by emergency personnel; her current status is unknown. However, the boy had been swept further away and was still deeper in the drain. After extensive searching, teams located him and took him to a nearby hospital. Despite efforts to save him, the boy ultimately died. 

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According to the authorities, the situation is presently being looked into. Kevin Boydston, a deputy fire chief, said in a statement that the youngster was playing near a retention pond when it suddenly flooded. He was swept into the storm drain by the strong current. On Monday, August 29, thunderstorms brought a lot of rain and localized flash floods, according to the National Weather Service. According to CNN, at that time, Rogers Executive Airport, located east of Bentonville, recorded more than 1.5 inches of rain.

Bentonville is a city in northwest Arkansas, near the state boundaries of Missouri and Oklahoma. It is well-known for being the birthplace of the retail behemoth Walmart. According to Daily Mail, one neighbor claimed they had never seen the water rise to the level it did on Monday, August 29. There are currently no other details available, according to Bentonville police, who claimed that it is still an open investigation.

After Monday’s heavy rainfall caused flash flooding in the region, residents were cautioned by a meteorologist with 4029 News in northwest Arkansas not to ignore road closures. He advised locals to exercise caution when driving because it was difficult to identify whether a road was flooded or not. He posted a video of cars swerving through barriers and signs on Twitter along with the caption, “Flooded roads In Bentonville. PLEASE STOP DRIVING AROUND BARRIERS! You have no clue if the road is washed out or not…just too dangerous!”