A heartbreaking tragedy struck early Wednesday in East Ridge, Tennessee, when a mother, father, and child lost their lives after a massive tree collapsed onto their car during intense flooding and torrential rains.
According to the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management, the saturated ground from relentless storms caused the tree to uproot just after midnight, crushing the family’s vehicle. Officials confirmed there were no additional missing persons.
Emergency crews also recovered the body of a fourth victim linked to the flooding, though details on that incident have not yet been released.
By Wednesday morning, some areas in the Chattanooga metro region had recorded more than half a foot of rainfall. The relentless downpour triggered widespread flash flooding, prompting dozens of rescues for stranded residents, including drivers trapped on an interstate.
Neighboring Catoosa County, Georgia, also faced disaster conditions, with officials confirming over 100 evacuations and multiple rescues from two heavily flooded apartment complexes.
Authorities are still surveying the damage, warning that the full impact of the storm has yet to be determined.
