Storm Harvey: Six members of Saldivar family die as van swept off Houston bridge

Police say they have recovered the bodies of six
family members whose van was swept off a Houston
bridge during Storm Harvey.
The van was carrying the Saldivar family when it was
overtaken by violent flood waters near Greens Bayou
on Sunday.
Driver Samuel Saldivar escaped through a window but
was unable to rescue the other six passengers - his
parents Belia Saldivar, 81, and Manuel, 84, along with
their great-grandchildren Devy, 16, Dominic, 14,
Xavier, 8, and Daisy, 6.
He survived by clinging onto a tree and was rescued
by officers who were alerted to his shouts.
The van was swept off a bridge by floodwaters in
Houston. Pic: @HCSOTexas
After floodwaters in the area receded, the van was
spotted by family members and recovered by police.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said: "The family is devastated,
we all are as well. Our worst fears have been
realised."
Storm Harvey has caused catastrophic flooding in
Houston and other parts of Texas, leaving billions of
dollars of damage in its wake.
Forecasters say Louisiana is now "under the gun" of
the storm after it made landfall for a second time.
As Harvey bore down on her home on Sunday
morning, Devy Saldivar spoke of her fears on
Facebook.
She posted: "No sleep & anxiety, please let this pass
sooner."
Hours later, her great-uncle Sammy tried to drive the
family to safety but got into difficulty as floodwaters
engulfed the van on a bridge.
Sammy's brother Ric said water "picked up" the
vehicle and sent it plunging into a stream.
"It went headfirst in and water came in real fast," Ric
Saldivar told CNN.
"He could hear the kids screaming and crying, trying
to get out of the van.
"He's still blaming himself, he was trying to do the
right thing to get them out of the flood... and it just
happened."
He added: "I can already imagine Dad holding Mum's
hand real tight as the water rushed in.
"I know they went to heaven holding hands."

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