ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WIS/Gray News) – A South Carolina woman on her way to the pharmacy died when her car became trapped in floodwater. His family believes his death could have been prevented if the road he was traveling on had been blocked earlier.

Valerie Goff, 66, left her home Thursday afternoon in Orangeburg County to run a quick errand and never returned. She was one of two people who died following days of massive flooding across the county. WIS reports.

Researchers say that found the body of Valerie Goff in her car a day after she was reported missing. The car was found underwater on Glover Street, just four minutes from the 66-year-old’s home.

While Valerie Goff’s family continues to mourn, they are also confused. They believe their mother’s death could have been prevented if Glover Street had been blocked off sooner. Her family said it wasn’t until 8 p.m. Thursday that officials finally closed the highway, hours after Valerie Goff was reported missing.

The 66-year-old man’s son, Carmelle Goff, drove from Columbia to Orangeburg County on Thursday to look for his mother.

“She had been in the water for over 24 hours,” he said.

Video obtained by WIS shows Glover Street and what appears to be the car Valerie Goff was driving that day submerging.

“An officer stated that they did not put up barricades until 8 p.m. My mom would never have gotten up at 8 o’clock that night,” Carmelle Goff said. “It just has to be a better system. “It has to be a better system and be proactive, so this doesn’t happen to anyone else’s mother.”

Valerie Goff’s daughter, Renee Gooden, said her mother made two trips away from her home on Thursday. One of them was around 10 a.m. on a quest to pick up his mother’s prescriptions at Walgreens. That’s about a six-minute drive from the 66-year-old man’s home on Pontiac Lane. At that point he was told that the prescriptions were not ready and he returned home.

“I know he was saying Psalm 23 because that’s what he always did,” Gooden said.

Around 3 p.m., Valerie Goff left for what would be her last attempt to get her mother’s recipes.

“I know she was hurt,” Gooden said. “The last thing he said to his mother was: ‘I’m going to get your medicine, mommy, and I’ll be back.’”

Gooden reported her mother missing shortly after.

“The fact that he couldn’t say goodbye again, the fact that he couldn’t make a call, the fact that he couldn’t give his last hugs, kisses. It hurts,” Gooden said.

Valerie Goff’s children took WIS to the same location where they found their mother on Glover Street. On Monday afternoon some areas were still full of water.

“I still can’t believe he’s gone. I didn’t get a chance to talk to her that day,” Carmelle Goff said. “I didn’t get the chance to hear her tell me she loves me.”

While searching for Valerie Goff, investigators also found the body of a man in the area of ​​Stonewall Jackson Boulevard. He has not yet been identified.

Orangeburg County and other areas of eastern South Carolina they have been left reeling of major flooding caused by heavy rains. Many parts of the eastern Midlands experienced between seven and 10 inches of rain, with totals of up to 15 inches in certain areas.

Orangeburg County’s emergency services director said there are no active search and recovery efforts for anyone at this time, but county officials have been investigating homeowners who live along the Edisto River.

Governor Henry McMaster declared a state of emergency Thursday night to aid counties’ recovery efforts.

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