1 dead, 2 remain missing amid flooding in central Virginia

UPDATE (4:40 p.m.):

The body of one of the three people who went missing during flooding that swept through central Virginia Wednesday night has been recovered by police.

The Albemarle County Police Department continues to investigate after two vehicles were swept downstream around 9:40 p.m.

Both vehicles had stopped in the 900 block of Old Ballard Road due to high water, but the water rose swiftly and carried both vehicles off the road and downstream.

The person in one of those vehicles managed to escape and swim to shore. Two people in a Toyota Prius, the other vehicle, were not able to escape at the time, however.

One of those passengers was found dead on Thursday. The other, as of 4:45 p.m., remains missing.

Police say the identities of the of the Prius' occupants are not being released until the missing person is found and family members can be notified of the search results.

Another person went missing in Madison County around 8:30 p.m. Rescuers have searched throughout the past day, from Graves Mountain Lodge to the bridge at North Blue Ridge Turnpike and West Hoover Road, for that individual, but have had no luck yet.

_________

Authorities are searching for three missing people who were swept away by floodwaters in central Virginia overnight into the morning.

Albemarle County declared a local emergency at 11:45 p.m. on Wednesday and Greene County declared one as of 3 a.m. Thursday morning for major flooding throughout the counties.

Two people in Albemarle County went missing at 9:30 p.m. as a flash flood brought the water levels of Ivy Creek up drastically. A silver Toyota Prius was observed being swept away in flood waters with its two occupants, one man and one woman, outside their vehicle and in the water.

A second vehicle was also swept away, but its single occupant was rescued from the water.

As of 3 a.m., a swift water rescue team from Lynchburg was actively working with first responders to find the two missing people.

North of that. authorities have been searching roadside woodlands for a third missing person. According to the Madison County Sheriff's Office, a report came in for a female in the water around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday night and rescuers have been searching overnight into the morning.

One person was rescued was transported to a local hospital by Madison County EMS, according to fire officials, but another was not as lucky.

As of 8 a.m. Thursday morning, Virginia State Police dive teams, Search and Rescue teams, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, aerial support, and more crews from surrounding jurisdictions were on scene to continue the search effort near Graves Mountain Lodge.

Units searched from Graves Mountain Lodge to the bridge at North Blue Ridge Turnpike and West Hoover Road.

So far, there's been no sign of any of the three people.

Residents in the area with any information should contact the Emergency Operations Center at (434) 979-INFO or (434) 979-4636.

Many roads are closed throughout central Virginia, including Route 33 at the border of Rockingham and Greene Counties, where a mudslide occurred. You can find a map of all road closings online at

.

In addition, the flooding has closed many outdoor facilities, like

.

Dan Eggleston, the fire chief for Albemarle County, said the flooding has damaged an unknown number of homes, washed out some roads and bridges and prompted at least one school system to close.

Eggleston says authorities have responded to at least 10 other water rescues and received reports of damage to homes. The extent of the damage wasn't immediately clear.

A water treatment plant in Albemarle County was damaged as well, affecting service for many people.