DHAKA: At least eight people are dead after a bizarre mix of weather across the country spawned tornadoes, ice storms and record-setting warmth this weekend.

Four of the deaths involved two vehicle accidents in Kentucky. Three people drowned in the Rolling Fork River near New Hope when a car drove into the water. Two people escaped but were hospitalized with hypothermia.

"Water was out of the banks, considerably up onto the roadway area. They ran their vehicle into the water. Two of the folks were exiting the vehicle as the swift water started pushing the vehicle downstream. The other three occupants of the vehicle were unable to exit," said Joe Prewitt, with Nelson County Emergency Management.

In the other crash, a rider on an ATV overturned into a creek near Carrollton and was trapped underneath.

The Kentucky Emergency Management reported a fifth death because of flood waters, in Ballard County, but did not provide specifics.

Authorities did not release the identities of the victims.

Several flood warnings remained in effect Sunday along some Kentucky rivers and streams.

Two deaths occurred in the Mississippi counties of Coahoma and Jasper, where severe weather damaged homes and knocked down trees, according to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

The eighth fatality came from a traffic accident near Kansas City, said Chris Redline of the Missouri Department of Transportation.

"We also had to close a lot of roads in southeast Missouri because of flooding," Redline said.

Source: CNN
BDST: 0958 HRS, DEC 23, 2013
MR