Thu Jul 17 13:10:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

**Tragedy Strikes Plainfield: Two Women Killed in Floodwaters**

**PLAINFIELD, NJ** – The identities of two women who died Monday night after being swept away by floodwaters in Plainfield have been released by police. Lubia Estevez and Forest Whitlock, both in their 60s, were traveling on Stelle Avenue when their vehicle went into a ditch and was then pulled into the rapidly flowing waters beneath a bridge.

According to authorities, a bystander attempted a rescue, breaking the car window, but was unable to extract the women before the vehicle was submerged in the brook.

Friends and family are mourning the loss of Estevez and Whitlock. Estevez, a Plainfield School District employee, was described as having a “big heart” and had recently begun to enjoy life again after the death of her husband. Whitlock’s family said the pair were returning from playing Bingo when the storm intensified. They remembered her as a cancer survivor who made everyone feel welcome.

“It’s horrific, I’m still lost for words,” said Al Tariq Nelson, Whitlock’s granddaughter. “To overcome all these obstacles in your life that have been thrown your way and to lose your life in your own city is very tragic and very sad.”

A makeshift memorial has been erected outside Whitlock’s home. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist Estevez’s family in the Dominican Republic. The Plainfield School District released a statement expressing grief and recognizing Estevez as a valuable member of their community.

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