13 people, including 10 children, were killed due to the effects of tropical storm Claudette

13 people, including 10 children, were killed due to the effects of tropical storm Claudette

Claudette regained tropical storm status on Monday morning-approaching the coast of the Carolinas less than two days after 13 people died due to the effects of the storm in Alabama. Tragic incidents included a multi-vehicle accident in Butler County that claimed the lives of 9 children.

According to authorities, eight of the children, ages 4 to 17, were traveling in a Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch car. The youth ranch provides a home for abandoned or abused school-age children, according to the non-profit organization Alabama Sheriffs Youth Ranches, which manages ranches and other organizations throughout the state.

According to Michael Smith, CEO of Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch, the only survivor of the ranch vehicle was its director, who was at the wheel.

According to Smith, the director lost two of her own children in the accident, and is currently hospitalized in a serious but stable condition. She was probably saved by passers — by who pulled the woman out of the car when she was unconscious and locked inside.

«We lost eight young people who could change our world, we lost eight young people who did not have the opportunity to have their own children, we lost eight young people who did not get the chance to break the circle in which they lived and give another life to their own children,» Smith said.

«This is a sad day.»

The accident also claimed the lives of two people who were traveling in another car. They were identified as 29-year-old Cody Fox and his 9-month-old daughter Ariana; both from Marion County, Tennessee.

Several other people were injured.

In addition, a 24-year — old man and a 3-year-old boy were killed Saturday when a tree fell on their home near Tuscaloosa, said Captain Jack Kennedy of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crime Unit. One more victim, 23-year-old Makayla Ross from Fort Payne, died on Saturday after her car flew off the road into a stream.

According to WBRC-TV, a search was also underway in Birmingham for a man who is believed to have fallen into the water during a flash flood.

On Monday morning, Claudette’s maximum strength was 40 mph, the National Hurricane Center said in a statement. Forecasters said the storm was recorded 65 miles east-southeast of Raleigh, North Carolina, and was moving east-northeast at 25 mph.

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