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Two children found dead, one still missing after vehicle gets swept away in Arizona flood waters

A desperate search for three children missing after a vehicle transporting them got swept up in a flooded Arizona creek took a turn for the tragic Saturday afternoon.

A military-type vehicle was carrying nine people across Tonto Creek, located about 60 miles west of the New Mexico border, when it was overtaken by water Friday around 4 p.m., ABC 13 reported.

Three children — two 5-year-olds and a 6-year-old — were unaccounted for in the immediate aftermath of the incident, prompting a widespread search spanning multiple fire departments and law enforcement agencies.

By late Saturday morning, they’d discovered the bodies of two of the missing children, KPNX reported.

“We don’t quit,” Gila County Sheriff’s Deputy Phil Smith told the news station. “We’re continuing especially with the fact that it’s cold weather, adverse conditions and young children.”

Four children and one adult were able to escape from the car and managed to take refuge on an island at the center of the creek. They were rescued by a helicopter from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

Another adult, a female, was found on the shore. She was able to swim to safety after floodwater sank the vehicle.

The group had been visiting with relatives for a family reunion celebration when their car went underwater.

Gila County Sheriff’s Deputy Phil Smith told the news station. they will continue their search for the third missing child.

“It’s a very large area. There’s a lot of vegetation that the creek goes through on the way to the river,” he said. “It’s very cold. We’ve got very cold temperatures in the air as well as the water temperatures, which are from snow pack and rain melt.”

Heavy rain and snowfall prompted road closures across the state beginning on Thanksgiving and a flood warning is in effect for Gila County until 8:45 p.m. local time.

“Remain alert for flooding even in locations not receiving rain,” the National Weather Service in Phoenix warned.

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