Today at about 4:30 a.m., the Pima County Sheriff’s Department received a 9-1-1 call from a man who reported he was stuck in a wash with his vehicle but got out safely close to the intersection of Manville Road and Avra Road. The caller said he heard a man yelling for help and advising that his legs were broken. The caller could not see the other male, but only heard him.
Deputies from the Sheriff’s Search & Rescue Unit, as well as Avra Valley Fire Department and Picture Rocks Fire Department responded to the scene. They could not locate the man right away and requested additional assistance, causing Northwest Fire Department to send rescuers as well. Eventually, the injured man was located on a sandbank surrounded by water approximately 200 yards downstream from Manville Road.
At that time a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) helicopter was also on scene and assisted in the effort. The man was reached by rescuers on the ground and had to be carried to a nearby ambulance. He told emergency personnel that his wife had been with him. He had exited their car, but was separated from his wife and that she was swept away with the car. When asked, he stated that he had been in the water since approximately 2:00 a.m. The male was then transported to University Medical Center for further treatment. It was later determined that he suffered a broken pelvis.
In the early afternoon hours, one of the helicopters advised rescuers they had located what they believed to be the bumper of a passenger car. In order to investigate further, rescuers were deployed on the ground and made their way to the location, which was approximately 175 yards further downstream from where the male had initially been found on the sandbank. Once they got close, they confirmed that it was a car bumper and that it was in fact the couple’s car. At approximately 2:20 p.m., they were able to inspect the interior of the car and found Mrs. Carrasco inside and deceased. Her body was recovered from the vehicle and later turned over to the Office of the Medical Examiner.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office contnues to investigation the incident.