KGUN9 On Your Side, Tucson News, Weather & SportsMotorists rescued as monsoon storm floods Tucson streets

Motorists rescued as monsoon storm floods Tucson streets

Web Producers: David Rush, Forrest Carr and Sheryl Kornman

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Some Tucson area roads remained closed Saturday after flash flooding from heavy rains Friday night.  Runoff from the monsoon storm quickly filled area washes, leading to the usual calls for swift-water rescues.

According to the National Weather Service, The Tanque Verde wash crested Saturday morning at 11.69 feet, as measured by the gauge at the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch.   That was unusual even by Tucson monsoon standards.    One law enforcement official told KGUN9 News Friday night that he personally witnessed an eight-foot wall of water coming down the wash.  

The flash flooding did not force any evacuations, but did flood a number of roads.  Among others, roads at the 49er Golf and Country Club were underwater Friday night.  And water was flowing at Camino De La Tierra at the Rillito near Orange Grove and Ruthrauff.

Crews were busy with swift water rescues on the northeast side.   In one of those incidents, a car got stuck in a flooded portion of Tanque Verde between Catalina Highway and Houghton Road.  As a KGUN9 News camera captured video, rescuers from the Rural-Metro Fire Department waded in wearing protective gear and successfully removed the couple from the car.   No one was hurt.

KGUN9 News' Craig Smith observed that the incident was understandable.  The road was very dark at the time that the car plunged into the flooded area.   With the entire road dark and wet, it was impossible to see where the road surface ended and the deep water began.   There were no barricades blocking the road.

A motorist that came along just before the rescue, however, did not have the same excuse.  The vehicle plunged into the flood even though the the stalled vehicle was clearly visible stuck in the swift water just ahead.  That car quickly wound up stuck in deep water as well.  But, in proof that it's better to be lucky than smart any time, the driver was able to back out.   The vehicle drove back in the direction from which it had come with water gushing from the interior.

That location was not the only place where people had to be rescued from rising water.  In one other notable incident, firefighters had to rescue a maintenance worker and three children from a mobile home at the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch.  Rising water from the Tanque Verde Wash had cut off the home and was threatening to flood it.

According to Capt. Trish Tracy, a spokeswoman for the Tucson Fire Department, at about 9 p.m., TFD was called to help Rural Metro firefighters with swift-water rescues at Soldier TRail and Tanque Verde Road, Ft. Lowell and Melopomene and at the Catalina Highway and Avenida de Pimeria Alta.

A car was reported overturned at East Speedway Boulevard and Houghton Road at 11:45 p.m. Tucson Fire crews crossed the flooded wash to see if there was anyone in the vehicle. No one was inside the car.

Three people who went to help their horses at La Mariposa, a horse ranch on Tanque Verde Loop Road, were stranded by floodwaters but they said they wanted to stay with the horses and declined help, according to Tracy.

In addition, the weather may have contributed to a fatal car wreck.  Northwest Fire Department told KGUN9 News an accident on Interstate 10 in Marana killed one person.  A vehicle traveling eastbound crashed into a semi-truck at exit 236.  Officials said it was raining at the time.

Trico Road in Marana remained flooded Saturday morning and El Camino de la Tierra at the Rillito River is also flooded.

According to the KGUN9 Monsoon Team, more rain was  possible on Saturday.  Before hitting the roads, motorists can call to learn road conditions.  In Pima County the number is 547-7510.   Outside Pima, the statewide number is 888-411-7623 or 411- ROAD, or 511 by cell.