Two people escaped without injury Thursday night after floodwaters swept their vehicle into an arroyo along New Mexico Highway 185 near Radium Springs, an unincorporated community in Doña Ana County north of Las Cruces. The rescue unfolded as a wave of thunderstorms dumped heavy rain across the region, turning a normally dry desert wash into a fast-moving hazard.
Doña Ana Fire Rescue, the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office, and U.S. Border Patrol coordinated on scene alongside CBP Air and Marine Operations personnel to pull off the multi-agency rescue, according to KVIA. The joint response reflects how rural desert emergencies in southern New Mexico routinely require local responders to work hand-in-hand with federal border agencies, since remote stretches like this one often sit far from dedicated rescue infrastructure. KFOX also reported on the CBP Air Branch crew's role in the operation, crediting U.S. Customs and Border Protection via Instagram for imagery of the response.
A Warning Issued Just Hours Before the Rescue
A Friday warning covered central Otero County, while a separate warning listed Radium Springs. Flooding can make low-water crossings hazardous.
That warning came on the heels of a broader pattern: the weather service had placed Doña Ana County under multi-day Flood Watches in late September as a late-season plume of tropical moisture fueled repeated thunderstorms and high rainfall rates across south-central New Mexico. Desert washes can experience rapid flash flooding.
Federal Air Crews Bring Specialized Rescue Capability
The CBP Air and Marine Operations El Paso Air Branch, which responded to the Radium Springs incident, operates air bases in El Paso and Alpine, Texas, as well as Deming, New Mexico. The branch deploys hoist-equipped UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, and its crews train regularly with local search-and-rescue teams for night operations using night-vision technology, per Texas Border Business.
While the Air Branch's primary mission is border domain security, its rotary-wing assets have also participated in rescues. Hoodline reported on a similar rescue in January 2025, when an AMO aircrew from Alpine and a Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue team extracted a stranded hiker from the Guadalupe Mountains during winter storm conditions.
Floodwater Poses Serious Risks to Drivers
National Weather Service safety advisories under its “Turn Around Don't Drown” program warn that floodwaters can make driving dangerous. Night driving and floodwaters pose added dangers to motorists.
