Today, Pima County Sheriff’s deputies, as well as officers of the Marana Police Department, and crew members of the Northwest Fire Department responded to a swift water rescue at North Silverbell Road and West Benjamin Road. A Toyota Corolla passenger car was trapped in the wash with a 71 year-old male and two females aged 69 and 93.
There were multiple swift moving water flows that had to be overcome by rescuers. Swiftwater Rescue Technicians from the Sheriff’s Department and Northwest Fire Department made their way to the vehicle and brought all occupants to safety, carrying the 93 year old woman in a stokes basket. The other two were able to walk out of the rushing water with assistance of the rescuers. Nobody was harmed in this incident.
Further evaluation of the scene showed that the passenger car became stuck in a hole that had formed when a portion of the asphalt roadway washed away; however, it could not be seen due to the flowing water. The car got stuck in the hole and became trapped in the wash.