Lucas Warren: GoFundMe set up for 4-year-old boy who died during flash floods in Texas weeks before his fifth birthday
BURLESON, TEXAS: A GoFundMe page was set up for Lucas Warren, a four-year-old boy, who died after being swept away by floodwaters while his family attempted to drive through the deluge in Texas.
According to the Johnson County Emergency Management, the ordeal began in the early hours of Sunday, May 5, when a 911 call reached the local authorities about Lucas's family being carried away by the flash floods off of Country Road 528.
Lucas Warren was found dead in the water two hours after his parents were rescued
The family, consisting of Lucas and his parents Chelsey and Adam Warren, found themselves trapped in the rising waters and were quickly overwhelmed by the force of the floodwaters.
The child's mother and father were rescued and were taken to a nearby hospital to seek medical attention. However, the child, who did not survive the ordeal, was found dead in the floodwaters more than two hours later.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Officer confirmed the identity of the victim as Lucas Warren of Burleson, according to People.
GoFundMe setup to meet Lucas Warren's funeral expenses
According to a GoFundMe page set by Joe Warren, the fundraiser has been organized for Lucas' funeral and also to support the family after the accident "totaled their only car, ruined their phones, and swept away their wallets."
“This is the hardest thing anyone in my family has ever been through,” Joe added.
As of Monday, May 6, the GoFundMe has raised $34,709.
What was Lucas Warren's cause of death?
As per public records viewed by the outlet, Lucas' death has been ruled as accidental drowning.
Fondly remembering the four-year-old as "a bright, sweet, amazing, amazing boy," his mother Chelsey said that weeks before her son was born, he was in the neonatal intensive care unit for weeks.
“He’s the best,” she said of Lucas who was expecting to celebrate his fifth birthday in about three weeks.
“My car battery died, and then the car started filling up with water, so we grabbed Lucas out of his car seat,” Chelsey recounted the family's fateful journey home from a relative's house in Johnston's County.
Chelsey Warren recalls the moment her son Lucas slipped out of her grasp
Recalling being swept away by the flash floods, Chelsey said she tried to keep Lucas' head above water for more than an hour but her attempt to shield him failed after a current suddenly carried him away from her arms, according to NBC News.
"A current came up real high, and he just let go. And I didn’t hear anything from him. I think he just went under," she recalled. Later, authorities found Lucas dead.
On Saturday, May 4, local authorities rescued more than 400 people were rescued in Houston alone, following the floodwaters that engulfed parts of Texas over the weekend, reported the Associated Press.
