Reporter: Claire Doan

Web Producer: Taylor Avey

 

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Two woman are facing felony charges after they drove into running washes while their children were inside the vehicle. 

 

Deputies from the San Xavier District responded to the 1600 block of south Sandario Road for a swift water rescue at around 10:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6 when 18-year-old Tiffany N. Sherman called 9-1-1 to report that her and her one-month-old baby were trapped in their Buick sedan that was stuck in a wash, according to Tom Peine with the Pima County Sheriff's Department. 

 

Once on scene, deputies discovered that the sedan was partially submerged in the running waters of the wash. 

 

Peine tells KGUN9 that swift water technicians waded through hip-high water to rescue Sherman and her baby. Once they got to the vehicle, crews found that the baby was only wearing a diaper but was draped in a blanket. 

 

Both mother and child were rescued successfully without suffering injures, but Sherman was arrested on one count of felony child abuse.   

 

The following day, deputies from the same district responded to another swift water rescue near Valencia Road and Camino Verde just before 8:30 a.m., according to Peine.

 

This rescue involved a driver in a Dodge Journey who drove past road closure signs before getting stuck in a running wash. 

 

A tow truck driver called 9-1-1 when he realized he couldn't get to the female driver due to the road signs.  

 

Peine says deputies and rescuers from the Drexel Heights Fire Department made their way to the SUV and discovered 29-year-old Edna K. Encinas and her three children, ages eleven, six and two.

 

Encinas was charged with three counts of felony child abuse and one count of reckless driving.