Two patients trapped inside a sheriff’s van died in South Carolina on Tuesday evening after the van became submerged in floodwaters from Hurricane Florence, the authorities said.

The accident happened between 5 and 6 p.m. as two deputies from the Horry County Sheriff’s Office were driving the women between health facilities along Highway 76 in the northeast part of South Carolina. The driver, one of the deputies, lost control of the van in high waters, according to Jerry Richardson, the coroner in Marion County, S.C.

Both deputies were able to climb out of the submerged vehicle and onto the top of the van. But according to a statement from the sheriff’s office, repeated efforts to remove the women from the back seat were unsuccessful.

“Despite persistent and ongoing efforts, floodwater rose rapidly and the deputies were unable to open the doors to reach the individuals inside the van,” the statement read.