Gila Herald Staff Reports
FORT THOMAS — A dramatic early-morning rescue unfolded near North Fort Thomas River Road and West U.S. Highway 70 on Saturday, Oct. 24, after rapidly rising floodwaters trapped a local family and a young child on top of a vehicle.
According to the Graham County Sheriff’s Office incident report, Drew Rubalcava was driving to the area for a morning bear hunt when he tried to cross the flooded river-road bridge.
The driver thought the water was crossable, but after losing control, the water pulled them off the road, leaving them stranded, the reporting deputy advised.
Emergency dispatchers received a call just before 6 a.m. from Drew Rubalcava, who reported that his truck and trailer had become stranded in roughly six feet of floodwater. As the current intensified, the water rose above the truck bed, prompting the occupants to climb onto the roof of the vehicle and a side-by-side utility vehicle secured to their trailer.
Deputies arrived to find a male standing on the roof of the fully submerged truck, while Drew Rubalcava, another male, and a 9-year-old child held onto the side-by-side.
First responders from multiple agencies were immediately mobilized, including the Graham County Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue (SAR), Fort Thomas Fire Rescue, Thatcher Fire Department, Lifeline EMS, and assisting personnel from the Pima, Safford, and Thatcher police departments. The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS Ranger) also placed an aerial rescue helicopter on standby.
Responders arrived to find the group roughly 80 to 100 yards out in the water. Because high-voltage power lines hung close to the vehicle and the current was swift, standard ladder trucks could not safely reach them.
Search and Rescue personnel deployed a rescue boat shortly before 7 a.m., equipped the subjects with life jackets, and safely brought everyone to shore. Lifeline EMS evaluated all four individuals at the scene, and no injuries were reported.
Because clear signage and warning markers indicated the bridge was flooded and advised motorists not to cross, Drew Rubalcava was cited for liability for emergency response and failure to obey a traffic control device.
Authorities later retrieved the hunting equipment and gear left atop the side-by-side once water levels receded and returned the items to the family at the Sheriff’s Office.
