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Salem drowning victim marks second flood-related death for Roanoke Valley

The body of Edward Clark, who was last seen Thursday, was found in a Salem creek Monday. A Buchanan man also died in flooding last week.

MATT GENTRY | The Roanoke Times

Dry Creek flows under West 4th Street in Salem on Tuesday. A body matching the description of Edward "Sam" Clark Jr., 54, was found in the creek Monday afternoon, downstream from his home.

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A Salem man died in last week’s flooding, apparently when he was swept away in a swollen stream behind his house, according to city police. His body was found submerged in the water about a mile downstream.

Edward “Sam” Clark, 54, was last seen working in his yard on Academy Street near the Interstate 81 overpass on Thursday, a Salem police news release said. Relatives reported him missing Sunday, and police began searching for him that day, joined Monday by the Salem Fire and EMS Department.

A body matching Clark’s description was discovered late Monday afternoon in a creek near the 500 block of McClelland Street, near the former Timber Truss Building System s facility.

The state medical examiner’s office confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the body is Clark’s.

Clark’s death is the second from last week’s flooding. Craig Ricker, 42, drowned early Thursday while trying to clear a culvert near the driveway of his Botetourt County home.

Ricker’s family has scheduled a memorial service for Saturday.

Sara Stein, his wife, said friends are invited to celebrate her husband’s life at Faith Community Fellowship Church at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The church is located at 592 Lowe St. in Buchanan.

Staff writer Chase Purdy contributed to this report.

Sunday, September 15, 2013