Late Saturday night heavy rains caused massive flooding along Interstate 35 just south of Emporia. Waters reached a peak of seven feet in some areas. Many cars were swept off the roadway, leaving several people dead.

A total of seven cars were swept off the Kansas Turnpike. According to officials, concrete barriers kept the flood waters at bay for a while, and then seven of them gave way.

"After the dividers were swept away the water came across teh complete roadway," said Lt. Steve Celler of the Kansas Turpike Authority. "The water rose rapidly."

Officials say once the barriers were swept away the victims were basically helpless.

"We had soem cars that were washing off the road, and some cars that were washing around the road," said Capt. John Walters of the Kansas Highway Patrol. "The water came through at a very high rate of speed."

Due to the flooding four people have been confirmed dead. All four are children of a family from Liberty, Missouri. They were riding with their mother and father in a minivan. The father survived, however searchers are still looking for the mother.

The section of the Kansas Turnpike that flooded Saturday night is open.