Joseva Lawrence Speed, 60, of Birmingham passed away Wednesday after being swept away by a flash flood.
According to the Weather Channel, a slow-moving storm system moved over Birmingham Wednesday afternoon, bringing heavy rains and flooding. Some cars were reported to have been swept away, and water levels were so high in some places that they reached car door handles.
At approximately 3:01 p.m., Speed tried to reach a family member’s vehicle on 24th Street South in Birmingham before he was carried away by the water.
The National Weather Service Birmingham issued a flash flood warning for southwestern portions of Birmingham shortly after, advising Twitter users to take caution and avoid flooded roads.
Speed was pronounced dead at St. Vincent's Hospital at 3:28 p.m.
According to WBRC, Birmingham Fire Rescue Crews responded to over 20 water-related calls Wednesday, eight of which were actual rescues.
Several social media posts displayed the severity of the flooded streets in downtown Birmingham. One photograph from the parking deck at St. Vincent’s Hospital showed vehicles nearly submerged in murky brown water.
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