Colorado Flooding Leaves Three People Dead

People shovel dirt and debris to create dikes to help divert water from their homes as heavy rains cause severe flooding in Boulder, Colorado September 12, 2013. (REUTERS/Mark Leffingwell)

In Colorado, heavy rains and scarring from recent wildfires sent walls of water crashing down mountainsides early Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013 causing flash floods.

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At least three people were killed and another person is still missing.

The flood toppled buildings and stranded motorists.

Three cars fell into the creek when the bridge on a business access road at Highway 287 and Dillon Road at the Broomfield and Lafayette border collapsed.

Access to the mountain community of Lyons has been completely cut off because of by the flood.

The rains transformed Boulder Creek, into a raging torrent that spilled over its banks and flooded adjacent parking lots and streets.

St. Vrain River has also overflowed.

The city of Boulder and some other towns along the Front Range of the Rockies were especially hard hit as flood waters came down from the rain-soaked mountainsides.

The flooding was reported all along the Front Range, from Colorado Springs to north of Fort Collins but Boulder County was hardest hit, with up to 6 inches of rain falling over 12 hours.

(Please click the photos for larger images)

People shovel dirt and debris to create dikes to help divert water from their homes as heavy rains cause severe flooding in Boulder, Colorado September 12, 2013. (REUTERS/Mark Leffingwell)

A man (requested his name not be used) tries to untangle debris that have been washed down to his home after severe flooding in Boulder, Colorado September 12, 2013. (REUTERS/Mark Leffingwell)

A torrent of water rushes alongside a swamped house following flash flooding near Left Hand Canyon, south of Lyons, Colo., Thursday, Sept 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

A bridge collapse on a business access road at Highway 287 and Dillon Road at the Broomfield/Lafayette border, Colo., after flash flooding causes 3 cars to fall in the creek on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Daily Camera, Cliff Grassmick)

A man takes a photograph of the overflowing St. Vrain River following overnight flash flooding, one mile east of Lyons, Colo., Thursday, Sept 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

A home and car are stranded after a flash flood in Coal Creek destroyed the bridge near Golden, Colorado September 12, 2013. Flooding in Colorado left two people dead, prompted hundreds to be evacuated, caused building collapses and stranded cars, officials said. (REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

Culverts and a boat are piled up after a flash flood in Coal Creek destroyed bridges near Golden, Colorado September 12, 2013. Flooding in Colorado left two people dead, prompted hundreds to be evacuated, caused building collapses and stranded cars, officials said. REUTERS/Rick Wilking (UNITED STATES – Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

A section of Highway 72 is missing after a flash flood tore through Coal Creek near Golden, Colorado September 12, 2013. Flooding in Colorado left two people dead, prompted hundreds to be evacuated, caused building collapses and stranded cars, officials said. (REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

A home is stranded after a flash flood in Coal Creek destroyed the bridge near Golden, Colorado September 12, 2013. Flooding in Colorado left two people dead, prompted hundreds to be evacuated, caused building collapses and stranded cars, officials said. (REUTERS/Rick Wilking)

The overflowing St. Vrain River swamps structures following overnight flash flooding, one mile east of Lyons, Colo., Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

The overflowing St. Vrain River swamps structures following overnight flash flooding, one mile east of Lyons, Colo., Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

A woman views dangerously high Boulder Creek following overnight flash flooding in downtown Boulder, Colo., Thursday, Sept 12, 2013. Flash flooding in Colorado has left two people dead and the widespread high waters are keeping search and rescue teams from reaching stranded residents and motorists in Boulder and nearby mountain communities as heavy rains hammered northern Colorado. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)