Elk hunters were trapped by rising waters on November 29 as a result of Arizona’s first winter storm.
According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, at around 4:30 a.m., the office received a call regarding floodwaters surrounding a truck and fifth wheel on Forest Road 142H just off Highway 260 outside of Camp Verde.
Deputies arrived on the scene they found the truck and fifth wheel trailer in water approximately 4-5 feet deep. Three adults were trapped in the trailer. The weather was in the low 30’s with snow continuing to fall.
The Copper Canyon fire rescue team arrived a short time later and were able to rescue the group and bring them to safety just after 6:30 a.m.
Deputies learn the group had arrived at the area around 9:00 p.m., on November 28 to prepare for an elk hunt and intended to set up camp the following morning. Overnight there were steady rains in the vicinity causing what is normally a pasture to fill with water and flood unbeknownst to the group at the time the waters continued to rise overnight.