3 dead following burn scar flooding in northern New Mexico

LAS VEGAS, N.M. — Authorities have now confirmed three people died after flash floods hit the wildfire burn scar near Las Vegas.

Two women were found dead on Thursday, July 21. Officials with the San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office said they were found in different places along the Tecolote Creek channel.

The chief of the Cabo Lucero Volunteer Fire Department said they first received a call around 2:40 p.m. Thursday about a capsized vehicle floating in the flood waters.

One man was still reported missing – but his body was recovered Tuesday, July 26 from the Tecolote Canyon area.

Authorities identified the man as 62-year-old Jimmy Chris Cummings from Hale Center, Texas. The women were also identified Tuesday as 62-year-old Linda June Cummings and 84-year-old Betty Greenhaw – both also from Hale Center, Texas.

Although authorities had initially responded to the report of the capsized vehicle, officials later determined the three flood victims had been swept away from their destroyed home within the Tecolote Canyon subdivision.