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Damage reported as rain keeps falling in state; 4 dead

By Democrat-Gazette Press Services

A tree is down near a vehicle in a flooded mobile home park in East Camden.

Photo by Rick McFarland

A tree is down near a vehicle in a flooded mobile home park in East Camden.

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Heavy rain fell from far southern Arkansas to the Missouri state line, stranding people in their homes while strong winds damaged buildings and toppled trees and utility lines.

Authorities say a man who was found in a submerged car in North Little Rock has been pronounced dead.

Pulaski County Coroner Garland Camper says 50-year-old Kenny Raines was found Thursday night in a vehicle in a low-lying area of the city.

Camper says he is waiting for toxicology results before declaring a cause of death, but he said that the death appears to be an accident.

In northeast Arkansas, the body of a 38-year-old man was found Friday morning after he was swept away from his truck by floodwaters. Independence County Sheriff Keith Bowers says Eric Brashers of Batesville was found at about 7:45 a.m. Friday.

Other deaths included a Carroll County man hit by a tree branch and a Franklin County man whose car spun out on a flooded highway.

Forecasters said the rain would slacken today, but the National Weather Service cautioned that the ground was so saturated that even a modest amount of additional rain could cause flash flooding.

A 100 foot section of the Arkansas River Trail collapsed from the rains. The sink hole was discovered early this morning and immediately closed off to any foot or bicycle traffic.

“Our first concern is the safety of the citizens of Little Rock,” said Parks and Recreation Director Truman Tolefree. “We regret that the Arkansas River Trail has been compromised in any way and will put its repair as one of our top priorities.”

The section that is closed is between Arch Street and the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge.

Forecasters said the rain would slacken today, but the National Weather Service cautioned that the ground was so saturated that even a modest amount of additional rain could cause flash flooding.

Tenants Trapped, Several Homes Flooded

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Entergy Arkansas reports on its Web site thousands of power failures remain statewide. A possible tornado tore up a firefighters academy and mobile home park in East Camden.

The storm also damaged the roof off a Wal-Mart in Pine Bluff. There is widespread flooding in south Arkansas. Dozens of roads are underwater and some homes were evacuated. In Pulaski County, some streets are flooded in Little Rock and North Little Rock.

Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

Thank you for coming to the Web site of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. We're working to keep you informed with the latest breaking news.

This article was originally published October 30, 2009 at 11:42 a.m.
Updated October 30, 2009 at 6:54 p.m.

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