A Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office helicopter landed on the roof of an overturned truck at 327th Avenue in Tonopah, Arizona, on the night of September 29, after floodwater swept the vehicle from the roadway.
The 30‑foot‑high truck had flipped onto its side, leaving the driver straddling the vehicle as rising water climbed from below the window to the roof. Rescue teams opted for a hoist operation to avoid a dangerous water rescue.
Pilot Rich Dickner told CBS News that the specialist was lowered quickly, secured the man, and brought him to a nearby riverbank before the water reached the truck’s window level.
The Arizona Fire & Medical Authority said the man was about 30 feet from the shoreline, and the incident came amid a broader flooding event that has displaced dozens of residents in the area.
The rescue team expects the victim to receive medical evaluation at a local hospital, while authorities are reviewing flood control measures on 327th Avenue to prevent future incidents.