Moore community mourns the loss of mother and child killed in floodwaters

A heartbroken community continues to mourn the loss of a Moore mother and child who were killed in dangerous floodwaters.

Five to six inches of rain led to flash flooding over the weekend. Moore police and fire spent countless hours in the flooded area deploying every resource in hopes of rescuing the victims alive. Saturday, they responded to SE 12th and Eastern, where rushing water had risen 15 to 20 feet. The water exceeded the creek's embankment and forced vehicles off the main road.

“Behind me, two vehicles were swept off the roadway into the creek, one being a truck and another being a smaller vehicle,” said Major Kyle Dudley with the Moore Police Department.

Cellphone video captured by a neighbor showed the rushing water that covered multiple lawns and the main road.

“When the vehicles went off the road here, you couldn't see the road, the flood waters were at least a foot above it,” said Dudley.

The floodwaters caused two vehicles to go off the main roadway, one of which became caught under a bridge. Erika Lott, her 12-year-old son, Rivers Bond, and Erika's husband were inside. The bodies of mother and child were later found.

Monday, flowers, notes, and toys were left along a fence line in their memory. In a handwritten letter, one of River’s classmates said they were praying for his family. 

‘Dear Rivers, everyone misses you so much. We all wish you were here. Thank you for being such a good friend to everyone here. I pray for you and your stepdad. Fly high.’       

Erika's husband, an EMT, did survive Saturday's incident. A GoFundMe has been set up to help with funeral expenses.

Moore Police say they responded to 24 motor assists and six sinking vehicles Saturday. In Oklahoma City, firefighters responded to 15.