Christine Gonzales, Josue Pinadelatorre Obituary, Death: Officials identify 4 additional victims in Beitel Creek flooding
Christine Gonzales, Josue Pinadelatorre Obituary, Death – The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office has released the names of four more individuals who lost their lives during the devastating Beitel Creek flooding that struck on Thursday. With these latest identifications, the total number of confirmed flood-related deaths across the county has risen to twelve.
In a statement released on Saturday, the medical examiner confirmed that the following four people died as a result of flooding near Perrin Beitel Road and Northeast Loop 410:
- Christine Gonzales, 29
- Rudy Garza, 61
- Josue Pinadelatorre, 28
- Andrew Sanchez, 60
The ME’s office noted that work is still ongoing to identify additional victims who were found deceased. Further details will be shared once their families have been notified.
The San Antonio Fire Department had earlier reported that six individuals remain unaccounted for following Thursday’s extreme weather. Emergency services are continuing their search and rescue operations to locate those who are still missing.
The flooding began in the early hours of Thursday morning. Around 4:15 a.m., emergency responders started receiving distress calls from motorists trapped on the frontage road of Loop 410 near Perrin Beitel Road. Within a short time, heavy rainfall caused Beitel Creek to swell rapidly, leading to flash flooding that swept approximately 15 vehicles off the road and into the creek.
According to the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD), a total of 19 people ended up in the floodwaters during the height of the incident. Swift action by firefighters resulted in the rescue of 10 people, many of whom were found nearly a mile downstream from where they had been swept away. Some survivors had managed to grab onto tree branches to avoid being carried further by the current.
On Friday, the Bexar County Medical Examiner identified three other individuals who perished in the flooding:
- Martha De La Torre Rangel, 55
- Victor Manuel Macias Castro, 28
- Matthew Angel Tufono, 51
These names, along with the four newly identified victims, bring the known toll of lives lost in Thursday’s flash flooding to seven named individuals, with five more confirmed dead but not yet publicly identified. Authorities continue to search for the missing and have not confirmed whether recovery efforts have concluded.
Thursday’s deadly flooding was triggered by sudden and severe storms, which caused water levels in Beitel Creek and other nearby waterways to rise rapidly. The combination of heavy rainfall and swift water created extremely hazardous conditions, overwhelming roadways and trapping motorists.
Local officials are urging residents to stay cautious during severe weather, especially near low-lying or flood-prone areas. The investigation and search efforts remain ongoing, and authorities promise to provide updates as they become available.
