Event narrative (NOAA)
Sugar Creek was in flood after the area received up to 5 inches of rain in 3 days. Where Sugar Creek crosses Airport Road, it was at least 2 to 3 feet deep. The road was closed with a sign denoting this. However, a 28 year old man in a GMC Sierra pickup truck drove into the flood waters around 530 am on May 12th and was swept about 75 yards down stream. A witness saw this happen and called 911. It took about 6 hours before they found his truck submerged in about 8 to 10 feet of water 75 yards south of Airport Road. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Other notable flood events in Illinois
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Deaths and injuries are those NOAA classifies as direct. Damage is the reporting office's estimate at the time and is not inflation-adjusted. This is a catalogue record, not a forecast.