A full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is missing and presumed dead following a flooding accident in Samoa on Sunday evening.
Elder Michael Joshua Bent from Minot, N.D., who had been in the field for 14 months, is missing and was still being searched for late Monday.
According to Bruce Olsen, LDS Church spokesman, the accident occurred at a flood-swollen river crossing in the Samoa-Apia Mission.
A van carrying eight missionaries was returning from a meeting and attempted to traverse a river crossing. Halfway across, Bent, who was driving, realized the river level had risen significantly and stopped the vehicle. However, the engine stopped and the force of the water turned the van sideways. It then rolled over several times.
Seven of the missionaries exited the vehicle and struggled to safety, but Bent did not and was swept downstream. The river empties into the ocean.