Authorities believe they have found the body of 42-year-old Vincent Upton, a Goodyear man who was swept away by floodwaters in Buckeye early Sunday morning, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).
Deputies were called around 3:30 a.m. Sunday to the area of 214th Avenue and Narramore Road after a report of a white pickup truck trapped in rising water. Moments later, the caller said the truck had been swept away north through a wash.
MCSO located the vehicle within 30 minutes, but Upton was not inside. The truck was described as heavily damaged, and none of his personal belongings were found nearby.
A large-scale search effort followed, involving MCSO’s aviation unit, K-9 and volunteer posses, flood control specialists, and drone pilots. On Monday, deputies discovered a body believed to be Upton’s a “considerable distance”from where the truck had been located.
“Due to the difficult terrain, conditions and incoming weather, MCSO deputies are currently working on extracting Vincent from the location utilizing our aviation unit,” MCSO spokesperson William Jinks said in a statement.
Upton’s family has been notified, and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
