At least one person killed trying to cross flooded Arizona creek
Feb 28, 2017, 2:43 PM | Updated: Mar 1, 2017, 4:08 pm
(Yavapai County Sheriff's Office Photo)
PHOENIX — At least one person was killed Tuesday as they attempted to drive across a flooded creek in northern Arizona, officials said.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said the driver, 59-year-old Robert Kind, was trying to cross Beaver Creek near Rimrock when he ran into trouble. A caller said the vehicle was beginning to float away about 6:30 a.m.
First responders did not find the car until about 7:15 a.m., which was nearly submerged and a good distance away from the crossing point.
A swiftwater rescue team was unable to see the interior of the vehicle and a search was launched.
Four firefighters in a raft floated near the vehicle and reached it while tethered by a system of ropes operated by other firefighters on the side of the creek, Fire Chief Terry Keller of the Copper Canyon Fire and Medical Authority said.
The fighters leaned out to break its rear hatch window and then leaned inside to look for Kind but did not see him in the brown water inside the vehicle, Keller said.
Kind’s body was found about 11:45 a.m. about one mile from the car.
No firefighters were injured but one leaned over too far and fell into the creek before being quickly pulled out, Keller said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.