Southwest
Arizona county to build bridge over creek where 3 children drowned
Nearly five years after three young children died in northern Arizona’s Tonto Creek, Gila County is using a $21 million federal grant to build a bridge over part of the stream.
County officials announced Wednesday that the bridge is more than 94% complete and should have two-way traffic crossing by the end of this month.
The project began in September 2022, funded by the county and a Federal Highway Administration grant.
ARIZONA IS BOOSTING EFFORTS TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM THE EXTREME HEAT AFTER HUNDREDS DIED LAST SUMMER
The bridge was designed to help people who cross the creek daily on their way home or make trips to the grocery store, school and post office.
Tonto Creek is nearly 73 miles long on the north edge of the Tonto National Forest and the stream flows year round.
Gila County, Arizona, is using federal grant money to build a bridge over an area where three children died five years prior. (Fox News)
In November 2019, a couple headed to a family member’s home tried to cross the swollen creek with seven children in their military-style vehicle.
The couple disregarded signs and barricades that told motorists not to cross.
The husband and wife and four of the children managed to get out of the vehicle and were rescued.
But three other children — a 5-year-old boy, a 6-year-old girl and a 5-year-old male cousin — were swept away and died.
The couple avoided prison terms and were each sentenced to several years of probation in January 2022.
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Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.
A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.
Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.
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A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025. (Bill Robles) -
The U.S. Dept. of Justice booking photo of Jonathan Rinderknecht over the Palisades Fire devastation in Malibu, California in January 2025 (AP).
Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.
“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”
The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.
Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.
“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.
Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report
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