Michelle Runkle, 21, was the passenger of a vehicle being driven by a man.  The two were headed east on Clark St. when they encountered water over the road at the Hominy Creek.  They noticed another man holding on to the golf cart bridge structure and exited their vehicle. The driver called 9-1-1 from his cell phone, and while on the phone, noticed Runkle entering the water on foot.  The driver told Runkle not to go into the water, but said she was not in sight when he looked up after finishing the emergency call.

Emergency crews searched for Runkle for over two hours after rescuing the man from the bridge. The search was stopped at 5:30 a.m. Sunday due to darkness, swift and rapidly moving water, and large amounts of debris in the water. Runkle was located on Sunday evening in some debris a quarter mile south of Clark Lane on the west side of Hominy Creek after water levels dropped.

The Boone County Medical Examiner will work to determine the exact cause of Runkle's death.

The man holding onto the golf cart bridge who was seen by the driver and Runkle was rescued and transported to University Hospital. He was suffering from hypothermia and exhaustion after being in the water for an unknown amount of time. He was driving a Ford Mustang and attempted to cross the creek in the construction area. The high-rising and swift-moving water swept the vehicle off the road.  The man was able to remove himself from the vehicle and was swept away in the current, but managed to grab onto the bridge and stayed there until Runkle and the other man noticed him and called for help.

The man's condition is non-life threatening. The vehicle is completely submerged and not visible to rescuers.

The Columbia Fire Department also responded to a call late Saturday night involving a water rescue. Two vehicles were stranded in water over the roadway at the 3200 block of Creasy Springs Road. The drivers from each vehicle were rescued safely and no injuries occured.