Woman dies in Chatham County floodwaters, vehicle swept away

An 83-year-old woman, Sandra Hirschman, died after her car was swept away by floodwaters in Chatham County, North Carolina. Hirschman's 2014 Audi A4 became stuck in floodwaters on Farrington Point Road near Hinton Road and was found submerged approximately 100 feet from the road late Sunday (July 6). The North Carolina State Highway Patrol confirmed that Hirschman was the only person in the vehicle at the time of the incident.

The flooding resulted from Tropical Storm Chantal, which brought heavy rainfall and flooding to central North Carolina, including Chatham County and surrounding areas. County officials had warned residents to avoid driving through floodwaters, emphasizing the danger with the phrase, "Turn around — don’t drown." Steve Newton, Chatham County Emergency Management director, stated, "The safety of our residents and responders is our top priority."

As the community mourns Hirschman's death, local authorities continue to search for two missing kayakers on Jordan Lake, believed to have been affected by the same storm. Steve Maynor, the sheriff’s chief deputy, urged the public to keep the families and first responders in their thoughts and prayers.