Violent thunderstorm turns deadly
Posted Aug 6, 2011 8:25 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Calgary police say Friday night’s storm may have been responsible for the death of a 60-year-old man.
They say it appears the man drowned after a flash flood apparently swept him off his feet and under a car in the 4600 block of 4th St. N.W.
Officials say people in the area tried to help the victim and one of the witnesses was almost sucked under the car himself. They even lifted the car up and onto the curb but it was too late.
The victim was pronounced dead in hospital.
Meanwhile, emergency crews were inundated with calls during the onslaught of rain and hail in the severe thunderstorm. The fire department responded to 169 calls between 5:30 p.m. and midnight.
The calls included more than 60 about flooding, 10 for motor vehicle collisions, three water rescues, and five house fires.
One call was about a blaze in the 2800 Block of Morley Trail N.W.
Crews arrived and found 30-foot flames coming out the roof of the home and fire crews called in a second alarm.
No one was home at the time of the fire. Firefighters were able to locate the family cat which they have reunited with the owners.
Fire spokesman Brian McAsey said some of the family’s personal effects were salvageable but the house was practically destroyed. There’s no word yet of an official cause but witnesses did report seeing a lightning strike.
