Dramatic images show an Arizona sheriff’s helicopter arriving to rescue two people trapped inside a car overwhelmed by floodwaters during severe rain.
The rescue took place Wednesday on State Route 238, roughly 20 miles west of Maricopa. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said the vehicle’s occupants were both in their 80s, according to AZ Family.
“Crossing flooded roadways can have dangerous and many times deadly outcomes,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote on Facebook, alongside video of the helicopter reaching the stranded vehicle. The agency urged residents to monitor weather alerts during monsoon storms and stay away from flooded areas.
The Goodyear Fire Department advised motorists to avoid State Route 238 near Maricopa on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, after flooding was reported. (Goodyear Fire Department)
In one photo released by the Sheriff’s Office, a first responder can be seen standing on the roof of the car. Additional photos from the Goodyear Fire Department showed crews helping both occupants out of the vehicle and to safety.
“Flooding can change road conditions quickly. Avoid SR 238, and if you come across water covering any roadway, don’t risk it,” the Goodyear Fire Department said.
Two people were rescued from a flooded vehicle outside Maricopa, Arizona, on Wednesday as heavy rain swept across the area. (Goodyear Fire Department)
The department added, “Don’t try to drive through. Turn around and find another way.”
The emergency unfolded as intense rainfall affected communities throughout the U.S. Southwest, FOX Weather reported.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office warned that “crossing flooded roadways can have dangerous and many times deadly outcomes.” (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)
“These situations happen extremely quickly and are very dangerous. Our pilots and crew have experience with these situations, but they remain extremely dangerous and difficult,” the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement obtained by FOX Weather.
