Authorities have identified one of two people who died as a result of a severe storm that swept through the San Antonio area late Friday, causing widespread damage and power outages.
A 46-year-old woman who was swept away by storm runoff in downtown San Antonio over the weekend has been identified as Jenifer Leigh Hillard, whose death was ruled an accidental drowning.
San Antonio police acting Chief Jesse Salame previously said Hillard, who was homeless, was swept away along with a man in the 500 block of Quincy Street, near the elevated lanes of Interstate 35.
Salame identified the man Monday as Hillard’s husband. He escaped the water and was treated by medics at the scene.
A second person believed to have died as a result of the storm was found Sunday morning at Woodlawn Lake. Salame said the victim was a man in his 50s.
The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to identify the man and determine his cause and manner of death.
The Friday night storm, which battered the city with rain and high-speed winds, downed around 500 wires and left tens of thousands of residents without power, CPS Energy officials said. About 2,000 customers remain without power Monday, and service is expected to be restored by Tuesday.
The storm also knocked out traffic signals across San Antonio. CPS Energy officials said repairs are expected to be completed by Wednesday, with officers directing traffic at major intersections until then.
“We’re asking drivers to please slow down, be patient, stay alert, and use extra caution,” Salame said. “If a traffic signal is not operating, treat that intersection like it’s a four-way stop.”
SAPD will also continue increased patrols in Districts 1 and 5, which were among the areas hardest hit. District 1 includes downtown and parts of the North Side, while District 5 is primarily west of downtown.
Staff writer Kelsey Brown contributed to this report.