Family identifies woman who died after SUV crashed into Mesa canal

MESA, AZ (AZFamily) — Family members have identified a woman who died after her SUV crashed into an East Valley canal Friday morning.

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Brittany Kroldart was killed in the incident that began shortly after 10 a.m. near Signal Butte Road and Dragoon Avenue, south of Broadway Road, in Mesa.

That’s when police officers and fire crews responded to reports of a vehicle in the water. Specialized rescue teams soon spotted an SUV completely submerged under a bridge and began working to pull it from water 18 to 20 feet deep, according to the Mesa Fire and Medical Department.

While working to remove the vehicle, crews determined there were no air pockets and no chance of survival, shifting the operation from a rescue to a recovery.

Arizona’s Family crews on scene watched as several fire crews worked in the canal, using a ladder truck as a makeshift staircase to reach the water while others operated from a raft.

A rotator tow truck stationed on the bridge above the canal hauled the white SUV out of the canal and onto the road.

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First responders found Kroldart still inside. Once the SUV was out of the water, investigators covered it with a tarp.

A damaged section of nearby fencing suggests the vehicle went over the side, though it’s unclear exactly how it ended up underwater. It’s unclear if any other vehicles were involved.

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