Tragic drowning at McHood Park

Sometimes nature can take a turn for the worst, causing something completely unexpected and possibly unavoidable.

Emergency personnel from Winslow and the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call last Saturday just before 5 p.m. with a report that a swimmer was trapped under a rock at McHood Park.

Diana Smith, 22, from Holbrook, who was about three months pregnant at the time, was swimming in Clear Creek when she became a victim to an unpredictable event.

“When she climbed out on the rocks to get out of the creek, a rock formation gave way, pinning her down under the water,” said Winslow Police Lt. Jim Sepi.

Bystanders at the scene frantically tried to swim down and lift the large piece of rock holding Smith down, but their desperate attempts proved to be no match for the heavy obstacle.

Lt. Sepi said there have been incidents of drowning here before, but for different reasons.

“What happened here is usually not the case. Perhaps with all the recent rains, it caused some erosion loosening the rocks,” Lt. Sepi said.

“This was truly a terrible and tragic event.”

Emergency teams on the scene were unable to do anything due to the storm that came through just afterwards. NCSO dive teams arrived and were able to locate and remove Smith’s body around 9:40 p.m. that night.