On Monday, September 8th, 2014 at 12:38 p.m. the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department received a 9-1-1 call from a 69-year-old man who reported he and his wife, age 76, attempted to cross “Cadillac Wash” from Suizo Road (West of Hwy 79, 13 miles north of Oracle Junction) when their vehicle began to float down the wash.
While on the line with the dispatcher, the husband advised their vehicle was beginning to take on water. A short time later both exited the vehicle and the husband was able to make it to the shore. He reported that his wife who was not able to swim was swept away by the current and he could no longer see her.
Deputies along with officers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety began searching the wash and its bank.
At 1:34 p.m. the Honda Accord the husband and wife had been driving was located approximately one quarter mile down the wash from Suizo Road.
At 2:34 p.m. the female was located near the edge of the river about one quarter mile further down the wash than the car. She was pronounced dead on the scene.
Sheriff Paul Babeu stated, “Motorist are always advised not to drive through flooded roads or washes. The husband told our dispatcher, he noticed the water but thought he could drive through it. This is a tragedy and an example of what can happen if you disregard this advice and state law. Sadly, this elderly couple were washed away by swift current and only one survived.”