Missouri Couple Tragically Dies in Flash Floods on Their Way to Polls on Election Day

On Election Day, a Missouri couple lost their lives in flash floods while en route to work the polls. The elderly pair, a 70-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman from Manes, Missouri, were dedicated to their community, working as poll workers during the election.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to reports of three vehicles washed off the road on State Route H near Beaver Creek in Wright County at around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5. Authorities, including the highway patrol’s marine officers, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and the Wright County Sheriff’s Office, promptly initiated rescue operations. Two vehicles’ occupants managed to swim to shore and escape the floodwaters. Tragically, the couple in the third vehicle was found deceased around 8:45 a.m.

The Wright County Sheriff’s Office, which assisted with a drone to locate the couple, reported “extreme flooding in low-water areas and bridges” throughout the night and early morning. Sheriff’s officials noted several incidents of vehicles sliding off roads due to hydroplaning in areas that typically do not flood. In total, Wright County faced six swift water rescue incidents, with the elderly couple’s deaths marking the only fatalities.

In a statement to local news outlets, Wright County Clerk Loni Pedersen honored the couple, describing them as “dedicated citizens who valued fair and honest elections.” Their names have been withheld out of respect for the family’s privacy.

“This is a tragic loss for Wright County,” Pedersen stated, adding that the couple’s commitment to their community would be remembered warmly by those who knew them.