Last flood victim is identified
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Search and rescue personnel examine a site off Washington Boulevard where a woman reportedly was swept away by Friday's flood. Her body was recovered today. -
K-9 units assisted in the search for a woman who was swept away in the flood Friday. Her body was recovered today.
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The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the fourth victim of Friday's flooding, found along the shore of the Allegheny River near Washington Boulevard.
Mary Saflin, 72, of Oakmont, was pronounced dead at 12:50 p.m. today after searchers found her body.
Strong storms yesterday caused sudden flooding on the road that runs between Highland Park and Lincoln/Lemington. Kimberly Griffith, 45, of Plum, and her daughters, Brenna, 12, and Mikaela, 8, were pronounced dead inside their car at 6:10 p.m. Friday, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office. They were trapped in their vehicle in waters that rose as high as 9 feet and drowned. Ms. Saflin's body was found partly in the water and partly on shore halfway between the Highland Park Bridge and the 62nd Street Bridge. Officials believe she ended up in the river because she had gotten out of her vehicle and was drawn into a storm sewer just off Washington Boulevard.
The Griffith family vehicle was forced against a tree, according to officials. It was completely submerged, so rescuers initially didn't realize it was there.
A message on the Plum Borough School District's website reads, "We are shocked and saddened by the deaths of two of our students, Brenna and Mikaela Griffith, and their mother, Kimberly Griffith, in the Washington Boulevard flash flood of Aug. 19.
"The Plum Borough School District extends our deepest sympathy to the Griffith family. In the days and weeks to come, we will remain attentive and responsive to the needs that emerge from this tragedy as we attempt to cope with this loss.
"Grief counseling will be available for students and their families on Monday, Aug. 22 and Tuesday, Aug. 23 at the Center ELementary School and Obloch Junior High School."
Three Pittsburgh police officers and Raymond DeMichiei, deputy director of the PIttsburgh office of Emergency Management, who used two row boats commandeered from a nearby marina, and River Rescue personnel rescued 15 people who were clinging to trees or stranded on the roofs of their vehicles. Eighteen vehicles were recovered when the water levels dropped. Officials searched Friday night and this morning for the final victim, who had been talking to her daughter on the phone before the line went dead. Police found that woman's purse at the scene.
Now that the search has been called off, Washington Boulevard will be reopened to traffic.
First Published August 20, 2011 8:29 am
