Maryland woman remains missing, swept away by water while assisting man in flooded road

CHURCHVILLE, Md. - Officials say they are still searching for a missing 34-year-old Maryland woman after they say she was swept away by swift water Friday in Harford County while trying to assist a man, who was recovered by officials on Saturday.

Investigators say Melissa Anne Lehew, from Darlington, Md. went missing while she was assisting a man whose car became disabled on Broad Run Bridge due to rushing water that had submerged the vehicle up to its roof.

Lehew, along with her boyfriend reportedly pulled up in their truck to assist. Maryland State Police say Lehew and her boyfriend got a rope and tried to assist the man in his car, but Lehew fell. Her boyfriend tried to help her, but she reportedly fell again before being swept over the bridge and into the rushing water of Broad Run.

The boyfriend was able to drive to an adjacent quarry in search of the woman and then sought assistance from those in the area, who called the police.

While a witness was on the phone with the 911 operator, investigators say he saw the disabled vehicle go over the side of the bridge and get swept away into Broad Run.

Maryland State Police say the car that was initially disabled was found a quarter of a mile from the scene, but high water conditions made it initially too difficult to confirm whether it was the vehicle from the bridge and whether any of the potential victims were inside of it.

Divers found the driver Lehew and her boyfriend were trying to rescue, 67-year-old Daniel Samis from Abingdon, Md. on Saturday morning, but still have not found Lehew. Maryland State Police say they will continue their search on Monday morning.

Lehew's boyfriend calls her "selfless," apparent from the way that she made such an effort to help someone else.

Two divers also had to be hospitalized after they had issues with their oxygen levels.

Maryland State Police Dive Team, Criminal Enforcement Division and K9 unit have all been involved in the search, as well as Maryland Natural Resources Police, Baltimore County and Baltimore City police, Harford County EMS, Bay Area Rescue K9, Chesapeake Search and Rescue and Mid-Atlantic D.O.G.S. Search and Rescue.