Woman drowns in flood-swollen canyon

Posted by Cindy Yurth | Aug 3, 2015 | News |

A 44-year-old disabled woman from Chinle died Sunday evening in a flash flood in Canyon de Chelly, family members and witnesses confirmed Monday.

The body of Elouise Halwood was found Monday morning just below the Junction Overlook, about five miles downstream from where the truck she was riding in overturned in the swollen de Chelly Wash about 7 p.m. Sunday, a witness said.

Chinle residents reported heavy rain and pea-sized hail starting about 5 p.m. Sunday.

A family member who asked not to be identified said Halwood and several relatives were riding in the truck near Bear Trail when a torrent of water came out of a side canyon and joined the De Chelly Wash, which was also starting to rise.

The water overturned the truck.

The family member said two young relatives were able to save their grandmother and grandfather, but Elouise Halwood, an amputee who had no arms or legs, was unable to struggle and was swept away before they could reach her.

Police and National Park Service Rangers joined the family in searching for the victim, but the search was hampered by darkness and treacherous roads and was called off at 11 p.m., the family member said.

Relatives resuming the search in the morning found her and police recovered the body, said a witness who lives near where the body was found.

“It’s just beyond belief,” said the family member.

The witness, who also did not want to be identified, said the canyon is thought of as a benevolent entity by those who live there, and people forget it also has a dark and unpredictable side.

“It can flood so fast you won’t even see it coming,” she said. “Then it’s peaceful again … Look at it now: blue skies, puffy clouds, horses grazing … You’d never know something terrible happened here last night.”