A search is underway for a missing elderly man after his vehicle was swept away by flash floodwaters in Cordes Lakes, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO). The incident occurred on November 18th at around 3:00 PM, when residents near E. Fremont Drive and Thunderbird Trail called 9-1-1 to report a car being carried off by floodwaters.
Deputies arrived quickly and found a small sedan in the creek with two adult men clinging to or near the trunk. As the current intensified and the vehicle began to overturn, a YCSO deputy entered the water and rescued one of the men. The rescued individual said he had tried to help the driver after their car entered the floodwaters but was unable to prevent it from being swept away.
The driver, described as an elderly male, was last seen as the car continued downstream. The vehicle eventually became lodged against a tree about two miles from where it first entered the creek. Swift Water Rescue teams from YCSO Search and Rescue and other agencies located the car but found no one inside.
Deputies identified the vehicle’s owner as a 70-year-old resident of Cordes Lakes. A family member confirmed that he left home around 3:00 PM and did not arrive at his intended destination.
Search efforts have included YCSO K9 units, backcountry personnel on foot, 4×4 teams, drones, and air support—though air operations have been limited due to severe weather conditions. Teams are continuing their search along Big Bug Creek and extending into areas of Agua Fria River.
The Sheriff’s Office warned residents about dangerous water conditions: “Please avoid the area near Big Bug Creek due to extremely hazardous water conditions and allow emergency personnel to continue their critical search operations. Please help keep yourself safe by exercising caution and avoiding dangerous areas throughout the county during this week’s hazardous weather event.”
