
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, July 6, 1990                   TAG: 9007060776
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/2   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: CHARLESTON, W.VA.                                LENGTH: Short

EIGHT SURVIVE ORDEAL IN W.VA. STORM DRAIN

Runoff from a severe thunderstorm swept eight people along a 10-foot-wide storm drain for several hundred yards, but they all survived with minor injuries.

Authorities feared that five of the group had been swept into the Kanawha River because they were missing for about an hour Thursday night. But firefighters found them trapped inside the drain.

"They were very happy to see the firemen," said Fire Lt. Bryce Stotts. "They just found them up there in the dark in water about 2 feet deep. They couldn't go anywhere."

Three others in the group were swept out of the drain about 150 yards farther down.

Police Chief Ed Garnett said he did not know why the group had ventured into the drain.

"They're alive and that's what's important," he said.

- Associated Press

by CNB