Flash Flood in Richland County, Ohio

Heavy rainfall during the afternoon hours of July 12th caused widespread flash flooding across Richland County. Numerous state and county roads, including State Routes 314, 309, 430 and 181 were closed because of fast flowing high water. Initial reports of flooding were from the City of Mansfield where 12 to 18 inches of water was reported flowing across a road. Roads were also closed in Lexington and Ontario. On the east side of Mansfield, a bridge on Hickory Lane was washed out. Also in Mansfield, Touby Run quickly left it's banks and flowed into the first floor of a home near the Coul Street and West 6th Street intersection. Around 5:45 p.m., a young girl fell into a drainage ditch and was swept into a culvert at a botanical garden in Mansfield. The mother of the young girl jumped into the culvert to rescue her and was also swept away. The young girl was swept through the culvert and was rescued. Unfortunately, the mother did not survive. The daughter received only minor injuries.