Neighbors recall flood victim search

BURNET COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - Flood waters killed a Burnet County woman on her way home from work. Investigators said Karen Ann Eichelberger, 47, was driving home to the Deer Springs subdivision late Wednesday night from her job at a cookie factory in Austin.

When she crossed the creek just yards from her home, the strong current swept her jeep away. Search parties scoured the area by land and air Thursday after spotting her vehicle. Her body washed up about a half mile from where she went in.

Nearly an entire day after flood waters forced Eichelberger’s vehicle from the low-water bridge, the stream was still going strong. It came down considerably, but neighbors said, at times Wednesday night, they saw the level creep close to the top of the five-foot flood gauge.

By mid-afternoon, it was Casondra Grumble’s second try crossing the creek. Earlier that morning, it was still too high, but that’s when she noticed two people walking the banks frantically searching.

“They both were like, ‘Where is she?’ Grumble said. “All these questions going through their mind. Everybody else asking questions. It’s very horrible. It’s real sad.”

Authorities said that pair’s mother and wife was Eichelberger.

“You can feel it when you hit the water,” said Billy Kuykendall, another driver. “It kind of pulls your wheels a little bit. You got to know what you’re doing to get across it.”

Neighbors eventually found her jeep lodged in a tree a few hundred yards downstream.

“I guess a neighbor had come by and asked me to call the police,” said Dawn Stanley, “because they didn’t know if anybody was in there or anything.”

“It was really sad,” said Grumble. “Her daughter was really hysterical.”

Authorities urge drivers to stay away from any water crossing over the road. They said it is especially difficult to judge the depth at night, which was probably what led to Eichelberger’s accident.