In the past week, the state of Arizona has been hit by devastating floods that have claimed the lives of at least three individuals. The bodies of Phon Sutton, 85, and Dara Sutton, 72, both of Payson, Arizona, were discovered on Thursday after their vehicle became stuck in floodwaters in the Payson area. The couple had been reported missing after their vehicle was swept away by the powerful waters.
Separately, the Navajo county sheriff’s office reported the discovery of a 64-year-old woman who was traveling with her husband when their vehicle was swept downstream at a river crossing. The woman’s body was recovered, but her husband, who had been assisting in the search efforts, was reportedly safe. The pair had been driving through the area when they were caught up in the floodwaters, which caused their vehicle to lose control and drift downstream.
The flooding, caused by a combination of recent rainfall and snowmelt, has caused significant disruptions across parts of central and northern Arizona. Residents in several low-lying communities have been told to evacuate as a precautionary measure, and search and rescue efforts have been complicated by the treacherous conditions.
Floodwaters Sweep Away Three Lives in Arizona This WeekGila county authorities were called to the scene after a 911 call was received about a pickup truck found in Tonto Creek. The vehicle was located about 18 miles east of Payson, and search efforts were spearheaded by the Hell’s Gate fire department, Tonto Rim search and rescue, Payson police department, and Arizona department of public safety. The search party faced challenging conditions, with weather conditions and flooding posing significant obstacles.
In a separate incident, the Navajo county sheriff’s office received a call from a man who reported his wife missing after their Jeep was swept downstream by swift-moving water at a wash known as Seymour’s Crossing. The couple had been traveling on Hutch Road, about 16 miles west of State Route 377, when the incident occurred. The man was assisted by local residents in reaching the riverbank, but his wife was never found.
Her body was discovered about 200 feet from the water, and a multi-agency search effort was launched to locate her. Participating agencies included Navajo county search and rescue, Hashknife sheriff’s posse, Joseph City fire, Holbrook EMS, and the Arizona department of public safety’s air rescue unit.
The latest fatalities come after two men were found dead last week after floodwaters poured into a slot canyon near the Utah-Arizona border. The “atmospheric river” storms that swept parts of the western United States earlier this month have raised the water level in the canyons, leading to significant flooding and search and rescue efforts.