Linda Rodriguez came to a stretch of the Westpark Tollway near the Galleria following news reports that a white SUV with a female driver had been pulled from the waters.
She thought the person might be her cousin, who hadn’t been heard from since leaving a nightclub early Monday morning.
“She texted her mom that she was on her way home,” said Rodriguez. “She asked her mom if she needed anything. And that was the last we heard from her.”
She identified her as 25-year-old Claudia Melgar. Workers continued to pump out the water from the underpass. When the SUV appeared from the water, Rodriguez saw the vehicle and knew for sure.
Melgar drove past a barrier and into high water Monday, according to Precinct 5 investigators. Dash cam video showed a Harris County toll road worker attempting to run in after Melgar, but he couldn’t reach her in time.
Authorities say the water was 30 feet deep at the time of the incident.
Photos: Viewers send in more flooding pics
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