Expand / Collapse search
☰
Wind Advisory
from SUN 8:00 AM MST until SUN 5:00 PM MST, South Mountain/Ahwatukee, Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, Sonoran Desert Natl Monument, San Carlos, Southeast Gila County, West Pinal County, Pinal/Superstition Mountains, Dripping Springs, Tonopah Desert, Superior, East Valley, Southeast Valley/Queen Creek, Buckeye/Avondale, Deer Valley, Fountain Hills/East Mesa, New River Mesa, Northwest Valley, Cave Creek/New River, Scottsdale/Paradise Valley, Rio Verde/Salt River, Mazatzal Mountains, Aguila Valley, Gila Bend, Northwest Pinal County, Tonto Basin, Globe/Miami, Central Phoenix, North Phoenix/Glendale
8
Wind Advisory
from SUN 2:00 AM MST until SUN 5:00 PM MST, Southeast Yuma County, Gila River Valley, Kofa, Yuma County, Parker Valley, Central La Paz
Wind Advisory
from SUN 7:00 AM MST until SUN 11:00 PM MST, Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail, Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys including Nogales, Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains including Mount Lemmon/Summerhaven, Baboquivari Mountains including Kitt Peak, Southeast Pinal County including Kearny/Mammoth/Oracle
Wind Advisory
from SUN 2:00 AM MST until SUN 11:00 PM MST, Tohono O'odham Nation including Sells, Western Pima County including Ajo/Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, South Central Pinal County including Eloy/Picacho Peak State Park
Wind Advisory
from SUN 9:00 AM MDT until SUN 9:00 PM MDT, Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau, Chinle Valley, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas Hwy 264 Northward, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas South of Hwy 264, Black Mesa Area
Wind Advisory
from SUN 8:00 AM MST until SUN 8:00 PM MST, Marble and Glen Canyons, Eastern Mogollon Rim, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County, White Mountains, Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County, Coconino Plateau, Yavapai County Valleys and Basins, Kaibab Plateau, Oak Creek and Sycamore Canyons, Western Mogollon Rim, Yavapai County Mountains, Northern Gila County, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County, Grand Canyon Country
Flood Watch
from SAT 11:00 AM MST until MON 5:00 AM MST, Marble and Glen Canyons, Oak Creek and Sycamore Canyons, Kaibab Plateau, Coconino Plateau, Grand Canyon Country, Yavapai County Mountains, Yavapai County Valleys and Basins, Eastern Mogollon Rim, Western Mogollon Rim, Northern Gila County, Lake Havasu and Fort Mohave, Northwest Plateau
Wind Advisory
from SUN 5:00 AM MST until MON 5:00 AM MST, Lake Havasu and Fort Mohave, Northwest Plateau

Woman found dead inside SUV pulled from Mesa canal

By  and 
FOX 10 Phoenix
Mesa
Updated September 28, 2026 8:20 AM MST Published September 25, 2026 11:56 AM MST
1 person dead after car plunged into Mesa canal
1 person dead after car plunged into Mesa canal

1 person dead after car plunged into Mesa canal

A major emergency response in Mesa ended in tragedy after an SUV was hauled out of 20 feet of canal water. FOX 10's Megan Spector reports.

The Brief

    • First responders recovered a woman's body after an SUV plunged into a canal near Signal Butte and Broadway roads in Mesa.
    • Fire crews responded around 10 a.m. to find the vehicle completely submerged in 18 to 20 feet of water.
    • The Mesa Police Department has taken over the investigation into what caused the crash.

MESA, Ariz. - One person is dead after an SUV plunged into a Mesa canal on Sept. 25, prompting a multi-agency rescue effort that ultimately shifted into an hours-long recovery operation.

What we know:

A heavy wrecker was brought in to haul a white SUV out of the canal after it was submerged for more than an hour. It happened around 10:00 a.m. near Signal Butte and Broadway roads. When Mesa Fire crews arrived, the vehicle was entirely underwater.

"Speaking with SPR, we had levels that were about 18 to 20 feet deep of water and the vehicle was completely under it," said Mesa Fire Department Captain Richard Harless.

Dig deeper:

The clock was ticking as crews raced to locate the SUV and search for any survivors. First responders worked from the road and deployed a raft into the canal. SkyFOX was overhead, capturing the rescue efforts and the broken fence hanging over the canal.

"We had a full technical rescue team respond to this event," Harless said. "We made every initial effort to identify any viable victims. Any chance for an air pocket or something like that for victims that were underwater."

Unfortunately, once crews pulled the SUV from the water, they confirmed one person inside was dead. The person has been identified as 26-year-old Brittany Kroldart.

Brittany Kroldart

Local perspective:

The massive response involved Mesa Fire, police, and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, leaving neighbors in the area anxiously watching the scene unfold.

"I saw a bunch of police officers, and some ambulances out there, and we saw there was a helicopter up in the sky, and we just didn’t know what was going on, but heard it was a water rescue," one neighbor said.

"I don’t really know it’s kind of crazy though," another neighbor added. "I live right next to it so you see the whole road blocked off."

"I saw there were lots of cop cars and ambulances and just a lot of action which is not normal for our neighborhood," another neighbor said. "It was heavy on my heart just to pray. Pray for the people that were in there and whatever led up to it and pray for their families and just people, their friends and also the first responders."

What we don't know:

Officials have yet to release any details on what caused the crash into the canal.

What's next:

The Mesa Police Department has taken over the investigation.

Map of where the incident happened:

The Source: Information in this report was gathered from Richard Harless, a captain with the Mesa Fire Department; residents in the area; and the Mesa Police Department.

MesaNews