Woman found dead in creek, child missing

A rushing creek killed a woman and launched a search for a child in Waynesboro on Saturday after they slipped into the water, officials and friends said.

Rescuers pulled the body of the woman from the water at 6:15 p.m. and called off a search for a girl two hours later because of darkness, officials said.

Friends identified the woman as Tina Allen, 41, and the girl as Lacy Taylor, a second grader at Wenonah Elementary School.

Allen’s son Adrian, 9, was successfully rescued.

A full day of rain turned the usually smooth, foot-deep waters of Rockfish Run into a brown rage that flooded neighboring properties and bridges, left fish in lawns and drew groups to splash and play. But the joy turned to disbelief, sadness and anger when a call went out for help at about 5:30 p.m.

“We had so much fun but we extended it too long,” said Angel Gonzalez, a man who had been in the area with Allen and a group of children.

An unidentified man successfully rescued Allen’s son, Adrian, near Kirby Avenue. But the remaining search only drew tears from dozens of onlookers who trained their eyes on the water.

After the woman’s body was pulled from the creek, rescuers in life jackets looked over the edge of a culvert at Hunter Street and dipped a rake into the rushing water to check the openings of submerged pipes.

The search continued with flashlights until being called off before 9 p.m. Local and state rescuers, including those with training in water rescues, are to resume searching at 6 a.m. today.

Gonzalez, 47, said a large area was “swamped” in the afternoon. He said Allen stayed at the water while he took some of the children to change clothes and eat.

“And now this,” he said, shaking his head.

Earlier, at 4:35 p.m., Allen had called The News Virginian, asking for a photographer to come see “kids having a ball,” on Tenth Street. By the time news staffers were headed that way an hour later, the mood had turned.

“Someone said something happened to Tina,” said Gonzalez, who rushed back toward the creek, which flows down from Afton Mountain and feeds into the South River.

Waynesboro police Sgt. Kelly Walker said the trio went around a barricade and tried to cross a low-water culvert bridge before slipping into the water.

Rain had swelled the creek to a depth of 5 feet, Walker said.

Shannon Miller, of Tenth Street, said she saw children and adults playing in the area.

Her kids had asked about playing in the water as well. When she told them they could not, they were disappointed, she said.

“And now they can see why,” she said. “It’s shocking to us.”

Gonzalez said Allen was a handywoman.

“She does everything and anything,” he said.

A tearful Penny Taylor, who cares for Lacy Taylor, said the children were just going to look at the creek.

“They just got swiped,” she said, recalling the bob haircut and tie-dye sweatshirt she last saw the girl wearing.

“She’s a good kid,” she said.

Authorities are still seeking information on the white male with “short, military-style hair,” who was driving a white pickup truck, who pulled the boy from the water. Anyone with information can call police at (540) 942-6675.