MAYER -- A 6-year-old boy was swept away after his family's pickup truck became stuck in floodwaters near Mayer Thursday night.
Yavapai County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a reported swift water rescue incident near Old Sycamore Road between Highway 69 and Interstate 17 at approximately 8:45 p.m. Thursday.
A preliminary report indicated that David and Katrina Baudek attempted to leave their Chauncey Ranch area home to take their ill 6-year-old son, Jacob, to the hospital. Their vehicle became disabled in floodwaters of the Agua Fria River and swept off the main roadway.
Sheriff's office spokesman Dwight D'Evelyn said somehow the mother was able to reach higher ground away from the vehicle as the father moved their two kids to the truck bed for safety.
A person in the area was able to throw the father a rope while others called the fire department.
As fire personnel began arriving on scene, the floodwaters rose and swept the three from the truck bed. The father was able to get to ground with his 8-year-old daughter, Desiree, but Jacob was missing and presumed swept away in the floodwaters.
Rescuers searched both sides of the river's banks throughout the night but could not locate Jacob.On Friday afternoon rescue teams spotted a jacket belonging the boy's mother farther downriver. More teams will be sent out to search through the debris.
D'Evelyn said deputies are classifying the effort as a recovery due the presumption a young child could not survive in these conditions.
