A sheriff’s helicopter crew rescued a man stranded on an overturned truck as rapidly moving floodwaters rose around him in Tonopah, Arizona. The rescue took place Tuesday morning after deputies found the man sitting on the vehicle in a flooded wash. A rescue specialist was lowered approximately 80 feet from the helicopter, secured the man in a harness and lifted him to the riverbank, where fire personnel were waiting.
Authorities said the water was rising quickly, making a direct approach too dangerous. The entire hoist rescue took less than five minutes. Heavy rainfall linked to the remnants of Hurricane Polo contributed to dangerous flash flooding across parts of the Desert Southwest.
| 1) | Rescue crews locate the stranded driver |
|---|---|
| 2) | Rising water prompts a hoist operation |
| 3) | Rescue specialist secures the man |
| 4) | Fast response carries survivor to safety |
| 5) | Storm conditions raise flood safety concerns |
Rescue crews locate the stranded driver
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office aviation team, identified as the Fox 1 crew, responded Tuesday morning to a flooded wash in Tonopah. Deputies found a man on top of his overturned truck while muddy water moved rapidly around the vehicle. The truck had become a dangerous island as the floodwater continued to spread and deepen.
Video released by authorities showed the man perched on the vehicle with rushing water surrounding it. Because the area was unstable and the current was moving quickly, first responders determined that reaching him from the ground would expose rescuers to unnecessary danger.
Rising water prompts a hoist operation
The crew chose a helicopter hoist rescue instead of attempting a direct ground approach. The decision was driven by the rapidly changing conditions around the truck and the limited time available before the water reached a more dangerous level.
Pilot Rich Dickner said the water rose significantly while the helicopter was at the scene.
“We didn’t waste much time,” Dickner said.
He explained that the waterline had initially been below the truck’s window but had risen to the top of the window by the time shown in the video, creating an urgent need to act.
Rescue specialist secures the man
Deputy Lindsey Smith was lowered approximately 80 feet from the helicopter toward the overturned truck. Video showed her descending to the vehicle and working to establish a secure position despite the moving water and difficult footing.
After initially struggling to get her footing, Smith secured herself to the truck and placed the stranded man in a rescue harness. The equipment allowed the crew to lift both the deputy and the man away from the floodwater in a controlled hoist operation.
Fast response carries survivor to safety
The helicopter carried the man to the riverbank, where fire personnel were positioned to receive him. Authorities said the complete rescue took less than five minutes, reflecting the urgency created by the rising water and the crew’s coordinated use of aviation and ground resources.
The sheriff’s office credited the aviation crew’s skill and quick response with bringing the man safely to shore. No additional details about his condition were provided in the available account.
Storm conditions raise flood safety concerns
The flooding occurred as remnants of Hurricane Polo brought historic rainfall to parts of the Desert Southwest, according to weather officials. In Maricopa County, flood-control authorities warned drivers not to attempt to cross flooded roads because conditions can change rapidly.
Officials urged motorists to turn around rather than drive through standing or moving water. The incident in Tonopah demonstrated how quickly a vehicle can become surrounded and how dangerous a flooded roadway or wash can become even when water levels appear manageable at first.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | A man was stranded on an overturned truck in a flooded wash in Tonopah. |
| 2 | Deputy Lindsey Smith was lowered about 80 feet to secure him. |
| 3 | The hoist rescue took less than five minutes. |
| 4 | Fire personnel received the man at the riverbank. |
| 5 | Authorities warned drivers not to cross flooded roads. |
Summary
A rapid aviation response prevented a potentially life-threatening situation from worsening as floodwater rose around an overturned truck in Tonopah. The rescue team used a helicopter hoist because the current and unstable conditions made a ground approach too dangerous. Officials are continuing to warn motorists that flood conditions can change quickly and that flooded roads should not be crossed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the rescue take place?
The rescue took place in a flooded wash in Tonopah, Arizona.
How was the stranded man rescued?
Deputy Lindsey Smith was lowered from a sheriff’s helicopter, secured the man in a rescue harness and was hoisted with him to the riverbank.
Why was a helicopter used?
Rapidly moving and rising floodwater made a direct ground approach too dangerous, so authorities selected a helicopter hoist rescue.
What safety warning did officials issue?
Flood-control authorities warned drivers not to attempt to cross flooded roads and urged them to turn around when encountering floodwater.