Flash Flood — Rowan, Kentucky

2022-05-14 · near Sharkey, Rowan, Kentucky

Event narrative

According to an article from LEX18 news in Lexington: Kentucky State Police say they were first called out in reference to a drowning on Bullfork Road in Rowan County. They say an 80-year-old man tried to cross a swollen tributary in a utility vehicle. He got out of the vehicle and tried to get to the other side of the tributary. While crossing, troops say he was swept away in the current. He was rescued and taken to the regional medical center, where he was pronounced dead.

Wider weather episode

Heavy rain occurred in portions of northeast Kentucky on May 14, leading to swollen creeks and streams across the area. While no flash flood reports were received, there was a fatality reported in Rowan County. According to the county EM and rescue squad, an 80-year-old man was on a utility vehicle with his wife, attempting to cross a swollen creek along Bullfork Road. The utility vehicle reportedly got stuck, and the man got off the vehicle and into the high waters to free the vehicle and get to the other side. The current of the water knocked him off his feet, and he was swept away down the creek. Rescue workers were able to get to him, and take him to a nearby medical center - however, he was later pronounced dead.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (38.2137, -83.5409)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1068889. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.