Crews pull body from Queen Creek sinkhole

Authorities say they have recovered a body from a sinkhole that appeared Friday afternoon in Queen Creek.

Witnesses saw an adult man disappear in a farming field near Power and Ocotillo roads after walking behind his vehicle. According to the city of Queen Creek, the witnesses tried to locate the man and found only a large hole behind the vehicle. Water is flowing through the sinkhole because the field was being irrigated.

The hole was about 50 feet across and 15 feet deep.

The crews widened the hole around 5 p.m. to make it easier to search. After another hour of digging, the crews found a body. They were able to extract the body just after 7:30 p.m.

Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler fire crews had assisted Queen Creek in the recovery. Maricopa County Sheriff's Office will now take over the investigation into the death.

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