Florida man's death is 5th linked to Imelda's aftermath | iNFOnews.ca
A truck drives through a flooded highway as flooding from the remnants of Tropical Storm Imelda continues in Southeast Texas on Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, in Mauriceville, Texas. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Florida man’s death is 5th linked to Imelda’s aftermath

BEAUMONT, Texas – Authorities in Texas have attributed a fifth death to the remnants of Tropical Storm Imelda, which caused widespread flooding in southeastern Texas and parts of Louisiana.

Jefferson County spokeswoman Allison Getz said Saturday that 52-year-old Mark Dukaj, of Florida, was found dead Thursday in his stranded pickup truck on Interstate 10 just west of Beaumont, which is near Texas' border with Louisiana. She didn't know where in Florida he lived.

Getz says floodwaters seeped into the pickup, but emergency personnel don't believe he drowned. She says investigators believe his death is related to the storm and an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause.

Authorities have attributed four other deaths to the storm, including that of a 19-year-old man who was electrocuted while trying to lead his horse to safety through floodwaters.

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Parker Crook

Parker Crook is a Saskatchewan-born reporter who began his career in journalism while studying the craft at SAIT in Calgary. After cutting his teeth at the school news outlet as the Opinions Editor, Parker landed a position at a Vernon newspaper and worked his way up to the editor’s chair. Parker strives to tell stories that have a genuine impact on the community he calls home. And, from courtroom dramas to on stage antics, Parker believes meaningful stories can be found just about anywhere.

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