A 22-year-old woman has become the latest victim of freezing to death while traveling in Buffalo, New York, USA while a “once in a lifetime” storm buries the region 50 meters deep snow. Anndel Taylor was trapped in her car for more than 18 hours after thick snow prevented her from moving or escaping her car. The young woman, who was on her way back from work Friday afternoon, sent her family a final video from her car the day before she was found dead from what her mother said was carbon monoxide poisoning, rather than hypothermia.
Ms. Taylor was one of three people who died in their car as a result of snow entrapment in Buffalo. The total death toll in the region is 35 due to the freezing cold, while the nationwide death toll stands at 70.
In her latest video to her family, the young woman said she was trapped in her vehicle and the snow was coming down thick and fast.
The 16-second video showed Ms. Taylor rolling down her snow-covered window to reveal the harsh conditions.
Several cars could be seen in the snow as the fierce wind whipped past in the background. The family quickly called 911 after receiving the video.
Despite her family’s desperate efforts to locate the young woman, her location could not be reached and she was eventually found dead late on Saturday.
The exact date and time of her death is unknown, but her family believes she died of carbon monoxide poisoning, rather than hypothermia, after snow blocked her exhaust and froze the doors shut.
The 22-year-old’s mother and sister spoke to WCOS in North Carolina about the pain of receiving the terrifying video and the wait afterward.
“She told my sister she was scared,” says Shawnequa Brown, Ms Taylor’s sister. “I don’t know if any of us really knew how serious it was. We didn’t see the news. We didn’t really know what was going on in Buffalo.”
Wanda Brown Steele, Taylor’s mother, told WCOS that her daughter planned to sleep out the storm in her vehicle before walking home the next day.
However, several hours later, Taylor was found dead in her vehicle. She would have turned 23 in January.
READ MORE: Father found dead on birthday after freezing in Buffalo [REPORT]
On Tuesday morning, 35 deaths were confirmed in Erie County, where Buffalo is located.
Officials warn more bodies could be discovered as more snow is predicted in what the city’s governor called a “once in a lifetime” weather disaster.
Officials described the blizzard, which began on Friday, as “the worst storm probably in our lives”, adding that it is “not the end yet”.
“We’ve had so many bodies that several hospitals are full,” said Erie County executive director Mark Poloncarz. “We just need to go ahead and determine whether the individuals died of a blizzard-related death.”
Late Monday, Governor Kathy Hochul heeded calls from Mr. Poloncarz to declare a statewide state of emergency. On Tuesday, the death toll totaled nearly 70.
NOT MISSING: ‘Once in a generation’ storm to hit US [REVEAL]
Man, 27, dies after deadly winter storm traps deadly gas in his home [REPORT]
Met Office raises thunderstorm snow fears as temperatures plummet from US storm [REVEAL]