Missouri Thunderstorm Leads to Man's Death, Pushes Creeks Out of Banks
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A 66-year-old man drowned when his pickup truck was swept away by a flooded creek after days of heavy rain in southwest Missouri.
The Missouri State Water Patrol said George Burr's body was found in Beemans Creek in Anderson in McDonald County.
A witness saw Burr's car spinning in the water Tuesday after Burr tried to drive over a low-water crossing, the patrol said. Burr was hanging on the steering wheel, the witness told police.
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The witness went to call for help, the patrol said. When the witness returned, Burr was missing from the vehicle, the patrol said.
Burr's body was recovered about one-quarter to one-half of a mile downstream.
In Joplin, 30 miles north of Anderson, a thunderstorm that stalled over the area Tuesday pushed Joplin Creek out of its banks, flooding streets and parking lots, stalling vehicles and forcing the evacuation of some businesses.
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Joplin firefighters and police helped dozens of people get to higher ground as the torrent rose around Joplin Plaza, Vatterott College and a movie theater.
The National Weather Service station in Springfield said between 2 and 5 inches of rain fell over Joplin within a couple of hours Tuesday.
City officials said they were surveying streets and bridges for damage.