Hajar Hassib Obituary, Death: A 23-year-old woman was found dead in a submerged car in Alamance County following severe flooding caused by Tropical Depression Chantal, according to the Graham Police Department.
The victim, identified as Hajar Hassib, was discovered inside a vehicle submerged in a pond along South Jim Minor Road, just south of Turner Road. Authorities confirmed that the area experienced heavy flooding as a result of Chantal. Hassib was pronounced dead at the scene after emergency crews responded to the location.
Graham Police Chief Kristi Cole expressed condolences to Hassib’s family and acknowledged the collaborative efforts of rescue teams. “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with Ms. Hassib’s family and friends during this unimaginable time,” Chief Cole said. “We are grateful for the quick and professional assistance provided by the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office and Alamance County Rescue.”
Hassib’s family had reported her missing on Monday after she failed to return home the night before. She was last seen on Sunday as she made her way home to Graham, prompting concern when she did not arrive.
Using cell phone tracking technology, authorities were able to trace her last known location to the vicinity of South Jim Minor Road and Graham Smith Drive, an area that had experienced extensive flooding due to the tropical depression.
Specialized search and recovery efforts were launched by Alamance County Rescue, including dive teams and equipment designed for underwater recovery operations. These efforts ultimately led to the discovery of Hassib’s vehicle submerged in a flooded pond. The Alamance County Sheriff’s Office has taken over the ongoing investigation into her death.
Hassib’s tragic death is one of several storm-related fatalities in central North Carolina linked to Tropical Depression Chantal, which brought torrential rain and dangerous flood conditions to the region.
Among the other reported deaths:
- A man in Alamance County was swept away by rising floodwaters while driving.
- In Chatham County, an 83-year-old woman from Pittsboro was killed when floodwaters pushed her car off a rural road Sunday night.
- In Orange County, search crews located the body of a Person County woman who had gone missing Sunday night while driving to work.
- At Jordan Lake in Chatham County, the body of a missing boater was recovered, while the search continues for another individual still unaccounted for.
The scale of the storm’s impact has been significant. Certain areas of Alamance County received more than 7 inches of rainfall. The Haw River also rose dramatically, cresting at 32.5 feet on Monday morning, further contributing to the flooding emergency.
The community of Graham and surrounding areas remain in mourning as recovery operations continue. Authorities are urging residents to avoid flooded areas and to exercise extreme caution as clean-up and investigations into storm-related fatalities move forward.
