Mexico officials report 3rd death after Carlotta Associated Press, OAXACA CITY, Mexico | Mon, 06/18/2012 7:50 AM

Mexico officials report 3rd death after Carlotta

Associated Press, OAXACA CITY, Mexico | Mon, 06/18/2012 7:50 AM

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Authorities in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca are blaming Hurricane Carlotta for a third death.

Oaxaca state Attorney General Manuel de Jesus Lopez said Sunday that a 56-year-old woman died Friday night in a traffic accident blamed on the storm. Lopez said the woman was trying to find a safe place to ride out the storm when high winds flipped over her car.

Oaxaca state officials earlier reported that two sisters, ages 13 and 7, were killed Friday when a mudslide collapsed their home.

State civil protection officials are still tallying damage from the storm, which left thousands of people homeless.

Carlotta strengthened into a powerful Category 2 hurricane and reached land Friday evening as a Category 1 storm at the resort of Puerto Escondido. It rapidly weakened afterward.