A body found in the aftermath of southwestern New Mexico flood has been identified as that of an 83-year-old Arizona man who evacuated as floodwaters rose.
Catron County Undersheriff Ian Fletcher said Thursday that Howard Bassett's body was found by hikers Saturday in a sand bar off the San Francisco River. He was identified by the Office of the Medical Examiner in Albuquerque.
Fletcher says Bassett's driver's license lists his hometown as Prescott.
The body was about 8 miles downstream from where Bassett's pickup was found Sept. 18.
Bassett was staying at the Silver Creek Inn in Mogollon on Sept. 14 when he was evacuated because of an impending flash flood. The flood sent a 15-foot wall of water roaring through the tiny town and apparently swept away Bassett's truck.
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