ADEM confirms two Pulaski County deaths during weekend storm surge in central Arkansas

A weekend of severe weather in Pulaski County has claimed at least two lives, with emergency responders working tirelessly to address multiple incidents amid challenging conditions.

On Mondaythe Pulaski County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office recovered the body of an adult male from a submerged vehicle near Rixie Road in North Little Rock. . Meanwhile, a separate tragedy unfolded on Saturday when a 5-year-old boy was killed by a falling tree in Little Rock, highlighting the destructive impact of the storms that swept through the region.

The submerged vehicle incident began on Saturday when the Sherwood Fire Department responded to reports of a vehicle trapped in floodwaters near Rixie Road. Initial efforts focused on a rescue operation, during which firefighters successfully extracted an adult female from the scene.

Despite their extensive search, they were unable to locate a second occupant--an adult male--prompting a shift to a recovery mission. The Sherwood Fire Department clarified today that, contrary to early reports, they did not locate the male victim.

Instead, the Pulaski County OEM and Sheriff’s Office took over the operation, employing specialized resources to continue the search. Their efforts paid off on Monday morning when the man’s body was found inside the vehicle, submerged in the swollen waters that have plagued the area following heavy rainfall.

“Weather conditions made this an incredibly difficult operation,” said a spokesperson for the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, which has assumed lead responsibility for the case. “Our thoughts are with the families affected by this tragedy.”

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims, pending notification of next of kin.

The Rixie Road incident was one of several emergencies tied to the weekend’s severe weather, which brought torrential rain, high winds, and widespread damage across central Arkansas.

Just miles away in Little Rock, another life was lost on Saturday when a tree crashed through a home in the 8500 block of Mabelvale Pike. The Little Rock Police Department responded to a medical call around midday, discovering a 5-year-old boy fatally injured beneath the debris.

The child’s death was confirmed at the scene, and while officials have not disclosed the victim’s name, the incident has shaken the tight-knit community southwest of downtown.

The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) reported that the storms caused additional injuries and property damage across the state, with Pulaski County among the hardest hit. In a separate incident on Saturday, an adult female was rescued from a home in Little Rock’s 100 block of Normandy Road after a tree fell, trapping her inside.

She was transported to a local hospital with unspecified injuries. ADEM continues to coordinate with local officials to assess the full scope of the damage, urging residents to remain cautious as cleanup efforts begin.

The weekend’s tragedies underscore the dangers of Arkansas’s unpredictable spring weather, a season often marked by flooding and severe storms. According to the National Weather Service, Pulaski County received over four inches of rain between Friday and Saturday, swelling creeks and low-lying areas like Rixie Road, a known flood-prone zone.

The Sherwood Fire Department, Pulaski County OEM, and Sheriff’s Office worked in tandem with other agencies, including the Little Rock Police, to manage the crisis, their efforts hampered by saturated ground and ongoing hazards.

For now, Pulaski County remains on edge as authorities investigate the circumstances of both deaths and assess the broader impact of the storms.

The Sheriff’s Office and ADEM have advised residents to avoid flooded areas and report any storm-related hazards immediately. \