Every rider has rolled up to a flooded crossing and thought it doesn’t look that deep.
A 20-year-old cyclist in Tucson made that call and spent minutes trapped underwater. Her rescue at Sabino Canyon nearly cost two lives.
Video further below 👇
Here is what happened, and why the cyclist rescued at the Sabino Canyon flooded bridge should change how you treat wet roads.
What Happened
A 20-year-old woman was underwater for several minutes and needed CPR after floodwater knocked her off her bike at Sabino Canyon in Tucson, Arizona, just before 8 a.m. on Thursday, August 13.
She was riding with two family members after a night of heavy rain when she tried to cross a flooded bridge. The water swept her under.
Family members and bystanders dragged her out, and CPR was performed until she regained consciousness, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
Two people were hospitalized in stable condition and transported by the Rural Metro Fire Department. One of them appears to have been a rescuer rather than a second cyclist.
The Details
The rescue itself nearly turned into a second drowning.
A woman helping to pull the cyclist out was sucked into a drainage tunnel and pushed roughly 100 feet downstream, according to Sheriff Chris Nanos of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
“That’s how powerful that force is,” Nanos said. He added a blunt assessment of the decision to enter the water: “You can what-if this to death, but the real issue is, simply don’t do it.”
The sheriff’s department put it more directly in its public statement. Never attempt to cross flooded washes, whether on a bike, in a vehicle, or on foot. Turn around. Don’t drown.
The rain that filled that wash was not extraordinary by Arizona monsoon standards. Tucson’s airport recorded 0.78 inch overnight, while up to 2.32 inches fell at Arthur Pack Park, according to Pima County Flood Control District figures reported by the Arizona Daily Star.
Why It Matters
Sabino Canyon Road is one of Tucson’s classic rides, and its bike hours put riders out at the worst possible time of day.
The Coronado National Forest allows bikes on that road only before 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m., on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. That early window lands squarely after overnight monsoon storms have finished dumping.
The National Weather Service says six inches of fast-moving water can knock an adult off their feet, while 12 inches can carry away most cars and two feet will move an SUV. On a bike, with your feet clipped in and 20 pounds of frame under you, the margin is smaller still.
Nanos said water rescues become “a daily event for our search and rescue team” during monsoon season.
Turn around. Reroute. The ride will still be there tomorrow.
What not share with others 👇
