GRAND CANYON, AZ – An Ann Arbor, Michigan woman, Rebecca Copeland, was killed and several other people were injured after they were caught up in a flash flood in Grand Canyon National Park.
According to the National Park service, on July 14 at approximately 6:00 p.m., the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report of two individuals missing and multiple parties injured after flash flood activity impacted Tatahatso Camp near River Mile 38 on the Colorado River. Grand Canyon Search and Rescue sent two paramedics to the scene to assess and treat patients. Active monsoonal weather in the area limited access to the scene for overnight search and rescue operations.
At approximately 2:30 a.m., one patient who was in critical condition was flown out via Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopter from the area. Four additional patients were evacuated by air on July 15 to the Flagstaff Medical Center; they are in stable condition at this time.
At approximately 11 a.m. on July 15, the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report that a commercial river trip had located the two missing individuals near Tatahatso Camp, one uninjured and the other was the 29-year-old Copeland.
An investigation into the incident is being conducted by the National Park Service in coordination with the Coconino County Medical Examiner.