Third death in McDowell County floods confirmed to be two year old child

Welch, W.Va. (WVVA) - The West Virginia State Police are now releasing information regarding the three lives claimed by weekend flood waters.

Senior Trooper K. M. Saddler learned through his investigation that a silver Chevrolet Silverado had reportedly been driving in high water and washed into the Tug River over the weekend. The truck was located a short time later in the water near Coney Island in Welch, WV.

At roughly 5:00 pm Sunday, the truck was partially extricated from the water with the body of an adult female. The female’s identity has been confirmed as Deborah Griffin, 69, of Welch. According to witnesses, another occupant of the truck, a 2 year old boy was seen being taken from the truck by Donald Griffin, 69, of Welch, WV when the truck initially hit the high waters.

According to a press release two female juveniles were able to escape from the truck after being swept down river. Trees struck the truck, breaking the back windshield allowing the female juveniles to escape. The girls were rescued from the water by emergency services.

On Monday, around noon, Welch Detachment Troopers responded to the area of Summer Street in Welch for a deceased male, who was identified as Donald Eugene Griffin, on the bank of the Tug River.

The following day at approximately 10:30 am, the 2 year old boy’s body was found in the river in the area of Hunting Shirt Bottom in Davy, WV, which is an estimated ten miles from the location of the truck.

Mr. and Mrs. Griffin were the legal guardians of the children.

A GoFundMe has been set up by a granddaughter of the Griffin’s. In her post she says her grandparents along with her two sisters and her cousin left their home on Saturday to get propane for their home when a mudslide hit the truck the family was travelling in.

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