What to Know
- A pregnant mother and her son were caught in flash flooding in Douglass Township Thursday. Their car was washed away.
- Pam Snyder, 31, and her 9-year-old son Preston Dray were later found dead.
- The flooding came as severe storms hit the region.
Rescue crews discovered a missing pregnant woman and her son dead inside a car Thursday after floodwaters overwhelmed portions of Berks County.
Family members and police identified the victims as 31-year-old Pamela (Pam) Vera Snyder and her 9-year-old son, Preston Dray. It was around 4:30 p.m. when they became stranded by floodwater as Snyder tried to drive through flooded Pine Forge Road in Douglass Township, Pennsylvania, local police said.
Police said Snyder was on the phone with 911 as raging water rushed inside the car.
Officers had trouble locating Snyder's car as their own police vehicles began to float as they responded, police said. Her call eventually dropped as water swept the vehicle away.
Hours later, crews found Snyder's car on the Manatawny creek bed about half a mile from where she initially called 911.
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Snyder was nearly eight months pregnant and expecting a girl, according to a family member. She was also planning to get married in September.
Snyder, who worked at a diner, was on her way home to Boyertown when she was caught in the flash flooding.
Family and community members said Snyder was beloved and will be dearly missed. Some of them gathered to pray Thursday night after the bodies were discovered.
"They said she was just a wonderful, wonderful human being, just a wonderful sister and daughter and fiancee," Boyertown Salvation Army Lt. Joseph Smith. "She was just well loved."
Preston was a student at Pine Forge Elementary School. The Boyertown School District implemented its crisis plan, including making counselors available at the school Friday and Monday. Concerned parents can call the Student Services Department at the Education Center at 610-369-754, the district said.
A 5-year-old boy also died during the flooding in Berks County Thursday night after the small kayak or paddle board he was playing on flipped over.
