On October. 1, 2024, Angie Padilla was taking her 77-year-old aunt, Sarah Anne Farr, to an appointment at North Grove Medical Park.

Tropical Storm Helene had thrashed its way through the Upstate four days earlier, and power was still out in much of Spartanburg County.

Many stoplights in the area were dark – including the lights at Highway 9 and California Avenue.

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