Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 17
Arizona Sheriff Airlifts 2 People in Their 80s From Flooded Car on State Route 238
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 17

Arizona Sheriff Airlifts 2 People in Their 80s From Flooded Car on State Route 238

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 17

Summary

  • Two people in their 80s were rescued Wednesday after heavy rain stranded their car in floodwater on State Route 238, about 20 miles west of Maricopa.
  • Maricopa County Sheriff's Office footage showed a helicopter response and a first responder climbing onto the vehicle before the occupants were brought to safety.
  • Goodyear Fire Department urged drivers to avoid SR 238, warning that road conditions can change quickly and that motorists should turn around rather than drive through water.
  • The rescue came as heavy rains hit communities across the Southwest, with the sheriff's office saying flooded-road crossings can turn deadly and are dangerous even for experienced air crews.

Insights

Are highly publicized, dramatic helicopter rescues inadvertently encouraging motorists to take fatal risks on rapidly flooding desert highways?
Why do drivers continually risk deadly floodwaters despite warnings, and what is the hidden cost of these dramatic aerial rescues?
Can Arizona's desert cities completely redesign their failing infrastructure to survive rapid monsoon washouts before the next deadly storm?