New Mexico

Dramatic video captures sheriff stranded on top of car amid New Mexico flooding

Published

12 months ago

October 23, 2024

Dramatic video captures sheriff stranded on top of car amid New Mexico flooding

A New Mexico police officer was rescued from raging flood waters over the weekend after becoming trapped on top of his patrol car, according to a video shared by the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office.

Posted Sunday on the sheriff’s office Facebook page, the video taken by Sheriff Mike Herrington shows him speaking into his phone camera as police lights flash around him. Below him, rushing water can be seen and heard in the dark.

“At this time I am sitting on the roof of my cop car,” Herrington, clad in a yellow windbreaker, says to the camera. “I am completely surrounded by water…Came into this not expecting that much water and before I know it, I was swept off into this. Multiple vehicles have been swept away as well,” he says in the roughly one-and-a-half-minute clip.

After panning around to show the sheer amount of flooding, which had swallowed other cars, Herrington used the opportunity to warn residents of the county to stay home and avoid the roads.

“Everyone out here in this be careful, be safe and I’m just waiting until the water goes down,” he says at the end of the clip.

Sheriff Herrington was later rescued unharmed, the office confirmed to the BBC.

New Mexico hit by weekend rainfall, flooding

New Mexico experienced record-breaking rainfall and flash flooding over the weekend, resulting in two deaths and 300 rescues by the New Mexico National Guard.

Floodwaters entered homes and other buildings and swept cars off the streets, leaving some people waiting for rescue on the roofs of their homes or vehicles. The intense flooding and debris carried in by the water have left several areas still dangerous and inaccessible as of Wednesday and residents are still advised to avoid driving local streets when possible, officials said.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued an emergency declaration for Roswell and Chaves counties on Monday, allocating $1 million in state funding for flooding relief efforts in and around Roswell, the city announced.

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New Mexico

Sun Tours is hosting a Sail Away Showcase Cruise Event to help plan your next trip

Published

17 hours ago

October 22, 2025

Press Room

Sun Tours is hosting a Sail Away Showcase Cruise Event to help plan your next trip

Since 1978, Sun Tours has been helping people travel the world worry-free. Their new catalog is now available, featuring all-new North American and Canadian tours, Southwest and Regional Tours, Bucket-list international journeys like Switzerland’s Alpine Wonders, a Mediterranean Solar Eclipse Cruise, and a Kenya & Tanzania Adventure.

Sun Tours is hosting a Sail Away Showcase Cruise Event on Saturday, October 25, at the Albuquerque Museum. Head over to learn more about their incredible cruise offerings and to meet cruise line partners who will be the experts in each cruise to meet you and answer your questions. Enjoy refreshments, presentations, special offers, giveaways, and more! Plus, meet other travelers who might be on your next cruise!

To learn more about Sun Tours and their Sail Away Showcase Cruise Event, click here.

Sponsored content disclaimer: The information and advice displayed in this story are those of individual sponsors and guests and not Nexstar Media Group, inc.

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New Mexico

New Mexico’s Epic Whitewater Run Is A Thrill-Seekers Dream Hidden Between Stunning Southwest Cliffs – Islands

Published

1 day ago

October 21, 2025

Press Room

New Mexico’s Epic Whitewater Run Is A Thrill-Seekers Dream Hidden Between Stunning Southwest Cliffs – Islands

Sean Pavone/Getty Images

New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment thanks to its otherworldly desert landscape, star-filled night sky, and the oldest capital city in the United States, filled with a rich history and culture. But some know it as a land of excitement, since it’s a premier whitewater rafting destination. Just 25 minutes outside of Taos, thrill-seekers will find the Taos Box, an epic whitewater run where foaming rapids, dramatic drops, and massive boulders are bordered by stunning cliffs. It’s these 800-foot basalt cliffs of the Rio Grande Gorge that give this area its name, as they box the river in.

The Taos Box refers to two separate reaches: the 15-mile Lower Box has Class IV rapids, while the Upper Box is a 6-mile Class V+ stretch that’s for experts only. With rapids like the “Boat Reamer” and “Screaming Left-Hand Turn” in the Lower Box, it’s not hard to imagine what you’re in for: frothy water and wild rapids course through the canyon and under the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, a steel behemoth that’s the fifth-tallest bridge in the country, hanging 650 feet above the water’s surface.

The last four miles of the Lower Box are especially thrilling … or harrowing, depending on who you ask. Cisco Guevara, owner of Los Rios River Runners, describes them (via High on Adventure): “The last four miles are just screaming huge big stuff.” There’s a single 13-foot drop and the infamous rock garden that still gives him butterflies. These whitewater runs aren’t for the faint of heart, but rather for those seeking an adventure in pristine wilderness, as the canyon doesn’t have a railroad or road next to it, and you may see wildlife like bighorn sheep, beavers, and eagles soaring above.

What to know when rafting the Taos Box

Getting to the Taos Box is convenient, since Taos is only a 1.5-hour drive from Santa Fe and 2.5 hours from Albuquerque, both of which have airports. Taos also has a small airport, which services direct flights from several regional locations. Taos may be famous for its unbelievable 1,000-year-old world heritage site and Taos Ski Valley, its winter sports destination, but its whitewater rapids are close behind, as seen by the number of rafting companies in the town. It can be hard to choose, but some favorites are Los Rios River Runners and New Mexico River Adventures, both of which currently have a 4.9 rating on Yelp.

The rafting season is from spring to fall, typically from March to October, depending on weather conditions and water levels. The Rio Grande is not only one of the longest rivers in the U.S., but it’s also one of the most endangered due to climate change, pollution, and agricultural overuse, so its water levels can change greatly throughout the year. It’s possible to check them online or speak to the company you’re booking with to determine the best time for your trip.

The Upper Box is only suitable for expert kayakers and rafters who can navigate Class IV and V rapids, as well as self-rescue. If you’re a beginner or intermediate, it’s highly recommended that you tackle the Lower Box with an expert or someone who’s run it before. The Box isn’t the only option near Taos either; the Racecourse is a stretch just south of the town that has Class III rapids, which are family-friendly but still exciting and challenging enough to offer an exciting adventure for everyone.

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