Man dies after car swept into flooded wash in Scottsdale

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (NBC, KYMA) - A Scottsdale man was reported missing after his vehicle was found submerged in floodwater on Friday.

Emergency crews were not able to reach the vehicle due to the swift water current, but the body was then found Saturday morning.

Severe flooding across the valley created hazardous road conditions Friday. There was call after call for water rescues after cars got stuck in the Indian Bend Wash in Scottsdale. However, one man, identified as 38-year-old Ander J. Pallares Polanco of Scottsdale, lost his life.

His car was found submerged Friday night near 77th and Garfield Streets. Only the trunk was visible above the water, but there was no sign of him until Saturday morning when his body was found downstream.

Indian Bend Wash was a problem spot for drivers, with the Scottsdale Fire Department (SFD) being called out to three separate swift water rescue assignments Friday afternoon, all at unbridged wash crossings.

"The washes filled up quickly," said Deputy Chief Adam Hoster with SFD.

Deputy Chief Hoster says they experienced an influx of calls Friday due to the wet weather and flooding that followed.

When asked about the potential dangers drivers are up against, Hoster said, "These washes have dips, valleys and then their normal water flow paths that have water in them pretty much year round, so when these rainfalls go through these washes, they fill up quickly and they can get deep quick."

He says in some areas, they saw the floodwaters rise to nearly six-feet deep.

"People maybe not exercising good judgment, maybe driver through them instead of stopping and turning around and finding a different alternate way," Hoster explained.

When Arizona gets a storm like Scottsdale did Friday, City Councilwoman Solange Whitehead says the water accumulates quickly in some areas more than others.

"While we're prepared, it was much more water than we're used to getting and I'm just impressed with our staff they were out quickly closing road and putting up signage and making notifications," Whitehead shared.

While drivers need to heed the warnings put up in places like Indian Bend Wash, Whitehead says at the same time, the city is currently working on flood mitigation efforts.

"When you see the sign road closed, it's in your best interest just to follow directions and go somewhere else," she explained. "We have experts that work on these projects. We have a whole team of capital improvement engineers and many of those have expertise in this."

Some wonder if the city needs more bridged crossings to help drivers safe near the Indian Bend Wash. While Whitehead says she'll be looking into that in the meantime, she says their work on several drainage projects is ongoing.

"The city is constantly engaged in drainage efforts. The data from [Friday]'s storm is going to factor into some work we're doing in the area right now to expand our drainage work," Whitehead remarked.

As for Hoster, he says their annual swift water rescue training will continue, so they can be ready at a moment's notice whenever those emergency calls arise.

"We have our folk's make sure they're up to speed and competent in all their rescue training," Hoster explained.

Whenever anyone sees storms in the forecast, Hoster says you should always stay on guard.

"If you come to a wash that's flooded, or fast-moving water, it's best to just stop, turn around and don't proceed through," he added.