A 53 YEAR OLD PHOENIX RESIDENT IS NEW MEXICO'S FIRST WEATHER-RELATED DROWNING DEATH OF THE YEAR. STATE POLICE SAY STEVEN EISLEY WAS SWEPT AWAY IN HIS RENTAL CAR BY FLOODWATERS IN SIERRA COUNTY. HE WAS FOUND DEAD INSIDE THE CAR, WHICH WAS SUBMERGED IN A RUGGED AREA NEAR ELEPHANT BUTTE DAM.
A 21 YEAR OLD SOLDIER FROM WISCONSIN IS ANOTHER APPARENT DROWNING IN THE STATE … BUT NOT DUE TO THE WEATHER. ROB VANDE ZANDE NEVER RESURFACED AFTER GOING SWIMMING AT ELEPHANT BUTTE LAKE WITH A GROUP OF SOLDIERS ON SATURDAY. HIS BODY WAS FOUND SUNDAY MORNING IN EIGHT FEET OF WATER.
