Officials in Plainfield, New Jersey, are mourning the tragic loss of two women who perished in a devastating flash flood on Monday. The victims, identified as Lubia Estevez and Forest Whitlock, both in their early 60s, were caught in rapidly rising waters while driving along Stelle Avenue. Their vehicle was swept into a ditch and subsequently carried away by the waters of Cedar Brook beneath a nearby bridge.
Responding emergency services arrived on the scene promptly; however, both women were declared deceased shortly after their arrival, as confirmed by local officials. “Emergency personnel responded quickly, but tragically, both individuals were pronounced deceased at the scene,” local authorities stated.
This unfortunate incident occurred during a significant storm that dumped several inches of rain within a brief period, resulting in widespread flash flooding and damage across central New Jersey.
The deaths of Estevez and Whitlock mark another tragic chapter for Plainfield, occurring less than two weeks after a July 3 storm took the lives of two other residents. Mayor Adrian O. Mapp expressed his heartbreak over the recent events, stating, “All of Plainfield grieves this latest loss. To lose four residents in such a short span of time is unimaginable. We mourn with the families, and we remain committed to doing all we can to strengthen our emergency response systems and protect our residents from future harm.”
In response to the severe weather conditions, Governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency on Monday and took a tour of various flood-damaged areas the following day.
