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THIS ECHOES THE TRAGEDY FELL WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. WE KNOW THE NAMES OF T VICTIMS, PAM SNYDER WHO WAS EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT AND HER SON PRESTON. FLOWERS HERE ALONG MANATAWNY ROAD THAT READ "SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS" ECHO THE TRAGEDY FEL WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. >> OUR HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS BRITTANY: DOUGLASS TOWNSHIP POLICE SAY SNYDER WAS DRIVING ALONG PINE FORGE ROAD NEAR THE COLEBROOKDALE RAILROAD OVERPASS AND TRIED TO DRIVE THROUGH THE FLOODED ROAD. SHE WAS ON THE PHONE WITH 911 AS WATER RUSHED INTO THE CAR, BUT THEN THE CALL DROPPED. BRITTANY: THE FIRST ARRIVING BOAT UNITS COULDN’T DEPLOY BECAUSE THE CURRENT WAS SO STRONG BRITTANY: SO RESCUE CREWS ALSO SEARCHED BY HELICOPTER AND DRONE. >> IN MY ATTEMPTS TO GET TO HER, I COULD START TO FEEL MY VEHICLE WANTING TO GIVE AND FLOAT. THAT’S HOW STRONG THE CURRENT WA BRITTANY: SNYDER AND HER SON WERE EVENTUALLY FOUND ABOUT FIVE HOURS LATER A HALF A MILE FR

Advertisement Pregnant woman, 9-year-old son killed in Douglass Township, Berks County, flooding WGAL News 8 Share Shares Copy Link Copy

A woman who was seven months pregnant and her 9-year-old son were killed Thursday night when their car was swept away in floodwaters in Berks County. The victims have been identified as:- Pam Vera Snyder, 31- Preston Dray, 9Family members said Pam Snyder was engaged to be married in September.Mother tried to cross flooded road, officials sayThe incident happened during severe weather in Douglass Township, which is about 20 miles east of Reading.Police said the woman tried to drive across a flooded Pine Forge Road at the Colebrookdale Railroad overpass. The current was too strong and swept the vehicle away.After about a five-hour search by boat, drone and a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, Snyder's vehicle was found about a half-mile away. The Douglass Township Police Department issued the following statement about the deaths:"A 31yo female and her 9yo son were tragically killed when their vehicle was swept away by flood waters on Pine Forge Rd in Douglass Twp. Pamela Snyder and her son, Preston Dray , both of Douglass Twp, were travelling along Pine Forge Rd when Snyder attempted to drive through the flooded roadway. Her vehicle was immediately overcome with the raging waters and began flooding the vehicle. Snyder called 911 and emergency units were dispatched. Initial attempts by police to get to the vehicle were rendered unsuccessful as the current started floating the police vehicles. Police notified the Berks County Communications and advised that rescue crews and water units will be needed. Police were advised that those units were already enroute. Dispatchers continued to speak with Snyder while rescue efforts continued. Additional units responding also found it difficult to gain access to the area due to flooded roadways throughout the township. The water rescue team along with the Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, Trooper 1, began searching the area. Berks SAR drone team also assisted in searching the river with their drones. The vehicle was eventually located along the Manatawny creek bed approx. ½ mile downstream from where the original 911 call was made. Snyder and her son were eventually recovered by the divers and pronounced by the Berks County Coroner’s office. Family also reported Snyder to have been 8 months pregnant. Efforts to recover the vehicle from the creek are ongoing."