Couple falls victim to floodwaters

Yell County pair’s truck sinks after driving around highway barricade

By Kenneth Heard (Contact)

Arkansas’ floodwaters claimed the lives of a Yell County couple, and rescue teams found a missing kayaker Saturday afternoon on the Arkansas River as waters slowly began receding in some spots after releases from the state’s dams raised levels last week.

Water levels on the White River went down in Calico Rock and Batesville on Saturday. But National Weather Service hydrologists predict the river will rise again in Newport, Augusta and Georgetown as the water released from the Norfork Dam makes its way south.

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The White River at Georgetown, a small White County community, is expected to rise nearly 4 feet by Wednesday, isolating residents for the third straight week.

In Plainview, Julio Cano, 59, and Magdalena Dominquez, 55, drowned after their 2005 Nissan truck drove around a barricade on Arkansas 28 Friday night, Yell County Sheriff Bill Gilkey said. More than 2 feet of water from the flooded Fourche River covered the road. A witness told deputies he saw the truck drive past the barricade, leave the road and sink.

Rescue teams found the couple later Friday, a Yell County dispatcher said.

For more information see today's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Subscribers can read the story here on ArkansasOnline.