Flash floods claim one life in Benson, Ariznona
Flash flood struck Benson, Arizona claiming one life and prompting two rescues, overnight Friday into Saturday, September 12 to 13, 2025.
Flooding in Arizona on September 13, 2025. Credit: CCSO
A woman was found dead after her vehicle was swept away by floodwaters in Benson, Arizona, on Friday. The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) reported that two others were rescued from separate flooding incidents, one of which occurred in the same area as the fatality.
CCSO search and rescue teams responded to a 911 call at around 21:30 LT on Friday, near milepost 3 on North Ocotillo Road, for a swift water rescue. A female caller reported that her vehicle was caught in a flash flood and was sinking.
Upon arrival, crews found a male being swept away in a separate wash. Some deputies stayed behind to rescue him, while others continued searching for the woman.
She was later located near her submerged vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. North Ocotillo Road is now closed due to heavy water damage and debris blocking safe passage.
The second rescue took place at around 02:00 LT on Saturday, September 13. A man had to be airlifted from the bottom of the Lavender Pit mine after getting stranded.
He had called 911 at around 01:00 LT requesting assistance. Mine security had attempted to reach him earlier, but was unable to reach the site due to flooded roads. By 02:00 LT, the Tucson Department of Public Safety (DPS) Air Rescue helicopter, Ranger 2, arrived on site.
The helicopter performed a reconnaissance flight, landed at the Pit Overlook to pick up Rescue Specialist Deuce, and then used a hovering maneuver to rescue the man. He was flown straight to Copper Queen Hospital due to injuries sustained.
Meteorologists with the National Weather Service reported that most of the rainfall was typical monsoon activity, which continued into the weekend.
Forecasters monitored moisture linked to former Tropical Storm Mario in the eastern Pacific for the possibility that it could influence the Southwest and increase precipitation chances.
GOES-19 satellite and lightning mapper imagery shows a plume of monsoonal moisture and numerous showers and thunderstorms across the Four Corners and southern Rockies this afternoon. Storms will be capable of producing heavy rainfall and flash flooding. pic.twitter.com/47zP3xK6j6
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) September 12, 2025
Increased rainfall from former tropical systems in the eastern Pacific is common during the second half of the tropical cyclone season, as these systems can be influenced by trough patterns over the U.S. instead of moving westward.
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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