{"id":30446,"date":"2025-07-10T16:48:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T16:48:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=30446"},"modified":"2025-07-10T16:48:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T16:48:17","slug":"girl-17-dies-in-texas-floods-after-rescuing-family-from-submerged-van","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/?p=30446","title":{"rendered":"Girl, 17, Dies in Texas Floods After Rescuing Family from Submerged Van"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"loc article-header\">\n<div id=\"people-article-header_1-0\" class=\"comp people-article-header mntl-article-header\">\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h1><\/h1>\n<h1 class=\"article-heading text-headline-300\">17-Year-Old Girl Dies in Texas Floods After Rescuing Family from Submerged Van<\/h1>\n<p class=\"article-subheading text-utility-300\">Malaya Hammond was &#8220;an incredible role model,&#8221; loved ones said<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"loc article-content\">\n<div id=\"article__primary-video-container_1-0\" class=\"comp article__primary-video-container mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"figure-article_1-0\" class=\"comp figure-article mntl-universal-primary-image right-rail__offset text-utility-100 figure-landscape primary-image\">\n<div class=\"primary-image__media\">\n<div class=\"img-placeholder\" style=\"padding-bottom: 66.6%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 1em auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/TM5xJTHwM3UfsTtgKy8CZ5dF65I=\/1500x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)\/Malaya-Hammond-Texas-flood-victim-071025-e634650933574cb2b0d5ea726eb87bd8.jpg\" alt=\"Malaya Hammond Texas flood victim\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" \/><noscript><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/TM5xJTHwM3UfsTtgKy8CZ5dF65I=\/1500x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)\/Malaya-Hammond-Texas-flood-victim-071025-e634650933574cb2b0d5ea726eb87bd8.jpg\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" alt=\"Malaya Hammond Texas flood victim\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 1em auto;\"><br \/>\n<\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption id=\"primary-image__figcap_1-0\" class=\"comp primary-image__figcap mntl-figure-caption figure-article-caption\"><span class=\"figure-article-caption-text\">Malaya Hammond pictured alongside a photo of her family.<\/span> <span class=\"figure-article-caption-owner\"><span class=\"figure-article-caption-owner\">Credit :<\/span><\/span>GiveSendGo<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"article-content_1-0\" class=\"comp article-content mntl-block\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-page_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-page mntl-block structured-content\" data-sc-sticky-offset=\"90\" data-sc-ad-label-height=\"24\" data-sc-ad-track-spacing=\"100\" data-sc-min-track-height=\"250\" data-sc-max-track-height=\"600\" data-sc-breakpoint=\"50em\" data-sc-load-immediate=\"4\" data-sc-content-positions=\"[1, 1250, 1550, 1950, 2350, 2750, 3150, 3550, 3950]\" data-bind-scroll-on-start=\"true\">\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block people-sc-block-callout mntl-sc-block-universal-callout theme-needtoknow\" data-tracking-id=\"mntl-sc-block-callout\" data-tracking-container=\"true\">\n<h3 class=\"mntl-sc-block-universal-callout__heading\">NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n<div class=\"mntl-sc-block-universal-callout__body\">\n<ul>\n<li>A 17-year-old girl has died in the Texas floods after helping her family exit their van that fell into the raging waters on July 5<\/li>\n<li>Malaya Hammond was swept away in a current while she and her family tried to make their way to shore<\/li>\n<li>At least 120 people have been killed in the Texas floods, with 173 people unaccounted for<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_2-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">A 17-year-old girl has died in the Texas floods after helping her family exit their van that fell into the raging waters.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_3-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_4-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">The girl \u2014 identified by family members to ABC affiliate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kvue.com\/article\/news\/state\/texas-news\/texas-flood\/malaya-hammond-marble-falls-teen-flood-victim\/269-f37a3cae-635e-4ff5-98da-ee76a679a5e8\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">KVUE<\/a> as Malaya Hammond \u2014 died in the incident early on July 5.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_5-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_6-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">Family friend Mikki Willis told KVUE that he and his wife had been traveling with Hammond and her family\u00a0to a Christian summer camp.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_7-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_8-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">However, the group ended up driving their van off a cliff after not noticing that the Cow Creek Bridge had been flooded, thanks to the heavy rain and darkness.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_9-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_10-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">&#8220;Their van went over the cliff into the raging water, and it was Malaya who was the one that was able to get a car door open,&#8221; Willis said.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_11-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_12-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block people-sc-block-spotlight--mid-circ mntl-sc-block-spotlight--mid-circ mntl-block\">\n<h2 id=\"midcirc__heading_1-0\" class=\"comp midcirc__heading mntl-text-block\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div id=\"midcirc__card-list_1-0\" class=\"comp midcirc__card-list mntl-block\">\n<div id=\"midcirc-card__title_1-0\" class=\"comp midcirc-card__title mntl-text-block\">19-Year-Old Camp Mystic Counselor Was Looking Forward to &#8216;Mentoring&#8217; Campers Before Dying in Texas Floods, Family Says<\/div>\n<div id=\"midcirc-card__image-wrapper_1-0\" class=\"comp midcirc-card__image-wrapper mntl-block\">\n<div class=\"img-placeholder\" style=\"padding-bottom: 66.6%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 1em auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/Te7q9NzNSD73IX9dP7uRtV3hxoQ=\/300x200\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()\/chloe-childress-070825-102b393fc2d14afc8d4f7c2300b89535.jpg\" alt=\"Chloe Childress\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><noscript><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/Te7q9NzNSD73IX9dP7uRtV3hxoQ=\/300x200\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()\/chloe-childress-070825-102b393fc2d14afc8d4f7c2300b89535.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" alt=\"Chloe Childress\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 1em auto;\"><br \/>\n<\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"midcirc-card__title_2-0\" class=\"comp midcirc-card__title mntl-text-block\">Parents Confirm Daughter\u2019s Body Has Been Found After Texas Floods as Heartbreaking Final Text to Family Is Revealed<\/div>\n<div id=\"midcirc-card__image-wrapper_2-0\" class=\"comp midcirc-card__image-wrapper mntl-block\">\n<div class=\"img-placeholder\" style=\"padding-bottom: 66.6%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 1em auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/QGXqYbuFGhN_aWtUN6O7TnduhXQ=\/300x200\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()\/Joyce-Catherine-badon-hunt-texas-flood-victim-070725-c6792928e53546e49579532a0ced90c2.jpg\" alt=\"Joyce Catherine badon Hunt Texas flood victim.\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><noscript><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/QGXqYbuFGhN_aWtUN6O7TnduhXQ=\/300x200\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()\/Joyce-Catherine-badon-hunt-texas-flood-victim-070725-c6792928e53546e49579532a0ced90c2.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" alt=\"Joyce Catherine badon Hunt Texas flood victim.\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 1em auto;\"><br \/>\n<\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_13-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_14-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">He added that while everyone was able to exit the vehicle and head towards the shore, Hammond got stuck in a current and was swept away. After a three-day search operation, the teenager\u2019s body was found.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_15-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_16-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">&#8220;The four of them went into the river to make peace with the water and to give thanks that they had found her and that they have closure,&#8221; Willis said of Hammond\u2019s parents and younger two siblings.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_17-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_18-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">&#8220;The parents are amazing, but Malaya also set the standard as the oldest. So she was an incredible role model for her siblings,&#8221; Willis added.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_19-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"mntl-sc-block_20-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block people-sc-block-image mntl-sc-block-image mntl-sc-block-image--no-theme no-theme figure-landscape figure-high-res\">\n<div class=\"figure-media\">\n<div class=\"img-placeholder\" style=\"padding-bottom: 66.6%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"mntl-sc-block-image_1-0\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 1em auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/zFaJP_VpdkP-wUGRAE2wk2ntF8g=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(756x453:758x455)\/Guadalupe-River-flood-July-2025-070425-0b5dd77e4c4e41f7bf17165f225cdb8a.jpg\" alt=\"Trees emerge from flood waters along the Guadalupe River on July 4, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas.\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/zFaJP_VpdkP-wUGRAE2wk2ntF8g=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(756x453:758x455)\/Guadalupe-River-flood-July-2025-070425-0b5dd77e4c4e41f7bf17165f225cdb8a.jpg 4000w\" data-sizes=\"4000px\" data-expand=\"300\" data-tracking-container=\"true\" data-img-lightbox=\"true\" data-click-tracked=\"true\" \/><noscript><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/people.com\/thmb\/zFaJP_VpdkP-wUGRAE2wk2ntF8g=\/4000x0\/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(756x453:758x455)\/Guadalupe-River-flood-July-2025-070425-0b5dd77e4c4e41f7bf17165f225cdb8a.jpg\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" alt=\"Trees emerge from flood waters along the Guadalupe River on July 4, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas.\" style=\"max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; margin: 1em auto;\"><br \/>\n<\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption id=\"mntl-figure-caption_1-0\" class=\"comp mntl-figure-caption text-utility-100 figure-article-caption\"><span class=\"figure-article-caption-text\">Trees submerged in a flood along the Guadalupe River in central Texas.<\/span>Eric Vryn\/Getty<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_21-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">Hammond\u2019s school also\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DL0zZ8gvS3N\/?hl=en\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">paid tribute <\/a>to the late student.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_22-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_23-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">\u201cWe are so sad to share the news that Malaya Hammond has passed away. \ud83d\ude4f,\u201d the school wrote. \u201cAs we grieve, let us be encouraged by the words of Jesus, Malaya\u2019s Savior and Friend, \u2018I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.\u2019 John 11:25.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_24-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_25-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">A GiveSendGo <a href=\"https:\/\/www.givesendgo.com\/Hammondfamily\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">campaign<\/a> to help Hammond\u2019s family with funeral arrangements and more has so far raised over $136,000.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_26-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_27-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"><strong>Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for <a href=\"https:\/\/forms.dotdashmeredith.com\/people-news-inline\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">PEOPLE&#8217;s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_28-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_29-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/us-news\/live-blog\/texas-floods-live-updates-kerry-county-rcna217920\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">NBC News<\/a>, at least 120 people have been killed in the Texas floods, with 173 people still unaccounted for.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_30-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_31-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\">Among those who have died are 27 campers and counselors at <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/camp-mystic-counselor-saved-14-campers-from-texas-flooding-11767475\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">Camp Mystic<\/a>, the all-girls camp <a href=\"https:\/\/www.campmystic.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"externalLink\" data-ordinal=\"2\">announced<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"mntl-sc-block_32-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"mntl-sc-block_33-0\" class=\"comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html\"><em>To learn how to help support the victims and recovery efforts from the Texas floods,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/how-to-help-victims-of-the-texas-floods-11767154\" data-component=\"link\" data-source=\"inlineLink\" data-type=\"internalLink\" data-ordinal=\"1\">click here<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>17-Year-Old Girl Dies in Texas Floods After Rescuing Family from Submerged Van Malaya Hammond was &#8220;an incredible role model,&#8221; loved ones said Malaya Hammond pictured alongside a photo of her &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":30447,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30446"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30446\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30448,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30446\/revisions\/30448"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usdailys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}