Belleville Man Found Dead After Flash Floods Ravage Essex County

BELLEVILLE-NUTLEY, NJ — A Belleville resident was found dead on Monday after a heavy rainstorm caused flash flooding in the township the previous night, authorities say.

A storm dumped several inches of rain throughout Essex County on Sunday evening, causing severe flooding across the region. Roadways were engulfed with a sudden rush of water, sending emergency responders scrambling to rescue trapped motorists in several towns.

In Belleville, several streets were flooded along the Route 21 corridor, including the length of Main Street from the Nutley border to the Newark border. See Related: Flash Flooding Rocks Belleville; 'This Is Not Safe Out Here'

Police and fire crews spent the night aiding residents and conducting water rescues – one of which ended in tragedy, authorities said.

A spokesperson with the Belleville Police Department told Patch that police got a call from a Main Street resident about a missing person – a 63-year-old Belleville resident – around 10 p.m. But when officers arrived at the home in their patrol car, the flood waters were too deep to reach it.

The town’s police and fire departments deployed specially equipped vehicles to the scene and canvassed the flood waters, but weren’t able to find the missing man during their initial search. He was found deceased at 7:26 a.m. on Monday on the 80-block of Main Street, authorities said.

A preliminary investigation indicates that the deceased man left a neighbor’s house around 7 p.m. on Sunday with the intention of walking home, police said.

An investigation into the man’s death continues, authorities said Tuesday.

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