A BRAVE teenager saved her entire family after their van plunged off a washed-out bridge and into deadly floodwaters.
The 17-year-old managed to pull open a car door and help her parents and siblings escape, but got caught in the current before she could reach the shore herself.
Malaya Hammond died saving her family after their van plunged off a washed-out bridge into raging floodwaters[/caption]
She helped her parents and siblings escape but was swept away by the current before reaching shore[/caption]
It was pitch dark and pouring rain when their van unknowingly drove over Cow Creek Bridge[/caption]
The heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in Marble Falls, Texas, early Saturday morning as Malaya Hammond and her family were heading to a Christian summer camp.
It was pitch dark and pouring rain when their van unknowingly drove over Cow Creek Bridge, which had just collapsed in the storm.
Close family friend Mikki Willis said the vehicle plummeted into raging floodwaters below, setting off a frantic fight for survival.
“It was Malaya who was the one that was able to get a car door open,” Willis told FOX affiliate KVUE.
Willis said that all of them got out of the car and were heading to the shore.
“Malaya got stuck in a current and was pulled away from her family.”
What we know so far…
- At least 120 people lost their lives and more than 161 people are still missing
- Weather forecasts show there’s a chance for more rain today in Texas Hill Country
- At least three people have died in flash flooding in Ruidoso, New Mexico
- Families of Camp Mystic girls were sent a chilling note letting them know if their daughters lived or died
- Haunting pictures show empty bunks after 27 girls and counselors were killed
- Trump is set to visit Texas on Friday as Karoline Leavitt hits back at ‘depraved lie’ against US President
- Dad dies in floods after refusing to let go of still-missing sons
- Other victims include the niece of the Kansas City Chiefs’ owners, and sisters who were found dead with their hands locked together
Hammond was later found dead after a three-day search involving family, volunteers, and a chartered boat.
“She was an incredible role model for her siblings,” Willis said.
“The parents are amazing, but Malaya also set the standard as the oldest.”
The family went into the river to say goodbye and “make peace with the water” after her body was recovered on Monday.
“They gave thanks that they had found her and that they have closure,” Willis added.
The family also witnessed a double rainbow in the sky after her body was found.
Donald Trump’s statement on Texas floods
“The Trump Administration is working with State and Local Officials on the ground in Texas in response to the tragic flooding that took place yesterday.
“Our Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, will be there shortly.
“Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy.
“Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!”
“She loved rainbows and later, they felt that that was her saying, you know, ‘I’m with God now, and I love you,’” said Willis’ wife Nadia Salamanca.
The Hammonds had been en route to Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp nestled by the Guadalupe River, when disaster struck.
The camp was hit particularly hard by the flooding, with almost 30 campers and staff confirmed dead and at least 10 still missing.
The Hammonds’ story is just one of many heartbreaking tragedies to emerge from the catastrophic flooding across Central Texas.
Hammond was found dead after a three-day search involving family, volunteers, and a chartered boat[/caption]
The family went into the river to say goodbye after her body was recovered[/caption]
OVER 100 DEAD
At least 120 people have been confirmed dead in the wake of the catastrophic floods in Texas, with 95 found in Kerr County alone, including young campers and counselors.
The river swelled by 40 feet overnight, swallowing cabins and crushing buildings in its path.
One of the hardest-hit areas was Bubble Inn, home to the camp’s youngest girls, aged 8 and 9.
All 14 girls and their counselors in the Bubble Inn cabin are either dead or missing.
Camp director Dick Eastland also died trying to save them.
Aerial and satellite images show the scale of the destruction, with overturned trunks, mangled structures, and gray, mud-coated grounds replacing the once-green camp.
Officials say at least 150 people remain missing in Kerr County, and hopes are fading with each passing day.
WASHINGTON’S RESPONSE
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania are scheduled to visit the area on Friday to view the devastation.
Questions are mounting over why evacuations weren’t ordered before the storms hit, and whether budget cuts had ultimately hurt emergency response efforts.
Critics say federal staffing cuts slowed alerts from the National Weather Service, a claim the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt vehemently referred to as a “depraved lie.”
A FEMA task force has set up operations in Center Point, using helicopters, boats, and cadaver dogs to search the debris.
Texas lawmakers are now planning a special session to address flood warnings, communication systems, and aid.
In the meantime, a fundraiser has been launched to help the Hammonds replace their car, belongings, and pay for Malaya’s funeral.
“If the Hammond family knew people were coming back together in her name, that would be the greatest gift,” Willis said.
At least 120 people have been confirmed dead, with 95 found in Kerr County alone[/caption]
A FEMA task force has set up operations in Center Point, using helicopters, boats, and cadaver dogs to search the debris[/caption]
