By Nicki Clark
Published: Jun. 5, 2024 at 5:47 PM CDT|Updated: Jun. 5, 2024 at 6:19 PM CDT
BOLLINGER COUNTY, Mo. (KFVS) - “A lot of people don’t know the dangers of water, they don’t know facts behind it,” Ellen Underwood said. “With losing my kids, I didn’t know either before that.”
She lost her two young sons when the vehicle they were riding in got swept away in floodwaters nearly five years ago. Now, she’s sharing her heartbreaking story, in the hopes of preventing another tragedy.
We’ve experienced a lot of devastating severe weather this spring, and that’s why this Scott County woman reached out to share a story she hopes no one else will have to experience.
Ellen Underwood says before her two sons died, she never thought twice about driving through water over the road. Now, she wants you to think of her story before you put yourself or your family at risk.
“It’s like a hole in your heart that you’re never going to fill, it’s an everyday pain,” Underwood said.
Her life has not been the same since the day she lost her sons, eight-year-old Kayden and five-year-old Brantley.
“It could happen to anybody you know,” Underwood said. “My anxiety goes up, and I just want to try to prevent somebody else from doing it.”
November 30, 2019, Kayden and Brantely head out on a weekend trip with their father, Jacob Luttrull, and their half-brother. According to first responders, Luttrull attempted to drive over this bridge at Little Whitewater Creek, which was covered in several inches of water after recent storms. The swift current pushed his SUV off the bridge and into the creek.
“It was just an accident, he misjudged the water which could happen to anybody, and it was just a bad judgement call,” Underwood explained.
Luttrull and his younger son survived the accident, but Kayden and Brantley did not. Underwood says she and her kids’ father had already split up when it happened.
“I never spoke to him after that,” Underwood said. “I regret never speaking to him again.”
Just a year after they lost their sons, Jacob Luttrull took his own life.
“You know, his family told me that he struggled a lot with it,” Underwood explained.
Underwood still keeps in touch with his family, and they share her goal of telling others about the danger of driving through floodwater.
“You’re putting yourself at a huge risk, there’s always another way, or just stay home,” Underwood said. “Your life and your friends and families life, it’s not worth it.”
She also finds it easy to tell you about her sons. She remembers Kayden as an athlete who lit up a room.
“Played every sport possible, he wanted to be a soldier when he grew up, had to make you laugh, he didn’t like to see anybody sad,” Underwood said.
And his younger brother, Brantley.
“He wanted to be a vet when he grew up, he loved animals,” Underwood said. “His famous words were ‘I love you more than a puppy’, and that meant he really really loved you.”
Underwood makes it a point to go back to the scene of the accident if there’s a chance the creek could rise again.
“My grandmother still lives about a mile from the bridge, so before I hear it’s supposed to rain or whatever, I go out there and try to clean out the ventilators so that the water can flow through properly and not flood like it does,” Underwood said. “One to two inches can sweep you off your feet, two to three can move a car, and three to five can move a truck. It’s not safe, especially if you have kids in the vehicle.”
But, when Underwood goes out there, she still sees that white SUV her sons rode in on that horrible day. It has never been moved.
“I can’t believe they still have it out there, I’ve contacted the EPA over it,” Underwood said. “They never contacted me back or anything and nothing’s ever been done.”
Underwood says she wants to remember her boys in her own way, without seeing the now gravel-filled vehicle on the banks of Little Whitewater Creek.
“Until it’s gone, it’s always gonna be that reminder,” Underwood said. “It just really bothers me.”
Underwood says she’s looking for someone to help her get that SUV towed out of that area. Anyone who may be able to help can email nicki.clark@kfvs12.com.
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