Gov. Requests Funding For Bridge At Tonto Basin Where 3 Kids Died

ARIZONA — As the Tonto Creek flood deaths of three children Nov. 29 remain in the hearts and minds of the children’s family, friends and community, the incident also appears to have remained on the mind of Gov. Doug Ducey.

On Wednesday, the governor sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation requesting that some of the $1 billion in BUILD Grant funds recently approved by President Donald Trump be spent on a Tonto Creek bridge where the kids were swept away by floodwaters.

Willa Rawlings, 6, Colby Rawlings, 5, and their cousin, Austin, 5, died after they were swept from the vehicle they were in at a creek crossing.

In Ducey’s letter to Elaine Chao, U.S. Department of Transportation secretary, he said the Tonto Basin community is home to about 1,500 people. Those residents are blocked from accessing amenities, medical care and schools when the Tonto Creek roads are flooded with high waters and roads are closed. Road closures along the creek occurred in 2017 for 75 days, he said.

“Residents need a bridge over Tonto Creek for basic safety and quality-of-life needs," Ducey wrote. "Since 1995, eight people have died while attempting to cross in their vehicles during high-water times; three children lost their lives while crossing in a vehicle the day after Thanksgiving less than two months ago.”

Ducey's letter then mentioned Gila County’s previously denied applications to fund a Tonto Creek bridge project with federal funds such as a Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant. The most recent “no” occurred weeks before the Rawlings family children’s deaths, Ducey wrote.

However, Ducey still hopes federal funding will come through. “I was encouraged to see that the Federal FY 2020 spending bills signed by President Trump in December included $1 billion for the BUILD Grant program,” he said in the letter. “The proposed Tonto Creek Bridge is an excellent candidate. The bridge would significantly increase safety, improve quality of life, and bolster economic competitiveness in the Tonto Basin.

“The Tonto Creek Bridge has my highest recommendation for BUILD Grant funding, and I urge your support for this project,” Ducey implored in his letter.

On Nov. 29, Daniel and Lacey Rawlings drove around flood barricades in the family’s military-style vehicle at a Tonto Creek crossing. The vehicle became stuck in the creek, and Daniel and Lacey Rawlings and four children in the vehicle were rescued by helicopters. However, Willa, Colby and Austin remained in the vehicle and were swept away by floodwaters.

Colby’s and Austin’s bodies were recovered the following morning.

Volunteer and law enforcement rescuers looked for Willa's body for two weeks, finding what was believed to be one of her shoes on Dec. 2, but did not locate her body until Dec. 13.