Missing SUV driver identified

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Thursday afternoon the Austin Police Department released the name of the woman missing since Wednesday's heavy rains.

Jennifer Louise Ring, 51, was believed to be driving a Lexus SUV that was swept into an overflowing Bull Creek during this week's storm. She has not been found.

Officials said Ring drove her SUV past barricades at the Bull Creek crossing on FM 2222. It happend just a couple of miles away from her family's home off Highway 360. Ring is married and has two teenagers who attend school in West Lake Hills.

After the sun rose and water receded Wednesday searchers found the woman's smashed black Lexus, but there was no sign of the driver. The search turned from a rescue to recovery late Wednesday, as rescuers presumed that she had drowned. The woman has two teenage children.

Rescuers also found a Mercedes that belonged to another woman who survived after she swam to safety.

Witnesses said they saw the Mercedes go through the low water crossing before barricades were up on one side. The woman in it was pulled from the water behind the County Line restaurant, according to officials.

Weather conditions in the Austin area have greatly improved on Thursday, with the sun shining and rain stopped.

KXAN weather forecasters said there is yet a chance for scattered showers in the Austin area for Thursday afternoon, but the remainder of the week is expected to be rain-free with temperatures in the 90s.