Missing Charlotte County resident located

Published 7:36 pm Saturday, October 13, 2018

Ruby S. Allen, a Charlotte County Head Start teacher missing after being swept away by floodwaters from Tropical Storm Michael, had been located Saturday morning, police confirmed.

Search efforts took place Saturday morning for Allen along Mt. Harmony Road. County Administrator Dan Witt estimated that approximately 120 people took part in locating Allen.

Virginia State Police said in a news release that a volunteer K9 rescue team recovered the remains of the missing Charlotte County woman at approximately 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

Allen, 62, of Eureka, was located approximately a mile from where the vehicle she and two family members were riding in became stranded on a bridge along Mt. Harmony Road.

Police said she and her son, Ronnie Allen Jr., 36, of Eureka, were swept away in the flash flood over the bridge. Neither survived the incident. Ronnie Allen’s 17-year-old son was the third occupant of the vehicle and was rescued by Charlotte County Sheriff’s Deputies.

“I want to commend the incredible number of volunteers who came out to assist with the search efforts for Ms. Allen today,” said Charlotte County Administrator Dan Witt said in the release. “We are thankful for the hard work and long hours put forth by our volunteer fire and EMS personnel, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. We keep the Allen family in our thoughts and prayers as they seek comfort and peace in the wake of this very tragic situation.”

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) is now reporting six storm-related deaths – to include Ms. Allen.

Sharon Harrup, president of STEPS and Pauline Stokes, Allen’s colleague, confirmed that Allen was an instructor at Head Start in Charlotte County.