A close call unfolded on the Rio Grande this week as a man and his son were rescued from floodwaters that overtook their vehicle. The incident, which occurred on Monday, June 30, has prompted local authorities to issue a fresh warning about the dangers of attempting to cross water on roadways.
According to the City of Las Cruces, the driver of the pickup, caught in sudden, powerful floodwaters, called 911 after his truck was washed into the river. The man ended up trapped on the roof of his pickup about half a mile from where he first encountered trouble at Bignell Arroyo, off of Highway 185, also known as North Valley Drive.
A coordinated rescue effort saw teams converging from Las Cruces, Dona Ana County, Hatch, Sierra County, New Mexico State Police, and Border Patrol. The rescue teams, which included the Las Cruces Fire Department's Swiftwater Rescue Team and Mesilla Valley Search and Rescue, mounted their response with a boat, off-road vehicles, and a strategic approach plan. Both the trapped driver and his son, who had attempted to save his father, were pulled to safety alongside two first responders who also became trapped during the ordeal.
No injuries were reported, and no one was transported for medical needs, the Las Cruces Fire Department noted in their statement, underscoring the operation's success. However, the family's pickup truck remains submerged in the river, pending retrieval.
