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PARKERSBURG - High water claimed two lives in the Mid-Ohio Valley.
Valerie Swisher, 49, of Davisville, was pronounced dead after her body and SUV were recovered Thursday evening from approximately 15 to 20 feet of water on Nicolette Road near Davisville, the Wood County Sheriff's Office announced.
On Friday afternoon, the body of Isaac Harmon, 42, of New Matamoras, was found near his truck, which was submerged in flood waters on Ohio 7 near mile post 45, just north of Archers Fork Road, according to a release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
According to a news release posted to the Wood County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, deputies and other first responders were dispatched around 7 p.m. Thursday to the 1500 block of Nicolette Road.
A vehicle had been reported in high water with a woman inside who was unable to get out before it was "submerged in several feet of standing water," the release said. An earlier post said a male passerby attempted to rescue her.
Deputies and members of the East Wood Volunteer Fire Department confirmed at the scene that the vehicle, a 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander, had partially rolled over and gone under the surface, the release said.
Members of the Little Hocking Volunteer Fire Department dive team responded to the scene and were able to locate the vehicle, which was recovered from approximately 15 to 20 feet of water off the edge of the roadway by Pifer's Towing and Recovery, the release said. The driver was found inside. The incident happened in a deep dip on Nicolette Road, the release said. It is unknown why the driver entered the flooded area.
In the Washington County incident, the OSHP was notified around 7:35 a.m. Friday that Harmon was missing. A 1998 Dodge pickup owned by Harmon was later found, unoccupied, in flood waters on Ohio 7, the release said.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office and Marietta Fire Department dive teams arrived on scene and searched the area. Harmon's body was found at approximately 3:02 p.m. Friday.
The Little Muskingum Volunteer Fire Department and Washington County Sheriff's Office also responded.
No foul play is suspected and the investigation will continue, the release said.
Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard said a vehicle with multiple juveniles was stranded in high water Friday evening on Stillwell Road near West Virginia 47 outside Parkersburg.
"Everybody was extracted safely" by members of the East Wood VFD, Woodyard said.
Wood County 911 Center Public Information Officer Aaron Fleenor advised people to be aware of their surroundings when high water is involved.
"Even if it's not marked with high water signs, don't try to go across it," he said. "Depending on the vehicle, it can take as little as 6 inches of water to float their vehicle."
Evan Bevins can be reached at
ebevins@newsandsentinel.com