On September 30, 2017, at about 1:52 am, officers of the Silver City Police Department and the Silver City Fire Department responded to a white car stuck in the San Vicente Arroyo just north of the Silver Heights/Highway 180 East Bridge. According to the caller, he believed there might still be someone in the car. At the time the arroyo had high water flowing due to heavy rains.

Upon the arrival of Silver City Police Department and fire personnel, they found the white vehicle lodged against the north side of the bridge. However, they did not see anyone inside the vehicle. Because of the high water flowing through the arroyo it was decided to wait until the water receded before attempting a search because of the danger to rescue personnel.

The vehicle involved was a 2016 white Mazda CX-5.

At about 2:10 am, the registered owner of the vehicle was contacted by the dispatch center. The registered owner said the vehicle was owned by his mother, Laura Ortega. He said he would give her a call on her cell phone. He called back a short time later saying she did not answer her phone.

At about 5:44 am, a family member contacted the dispatch center stating he had still not heard from Laura and wanted to report her missing. He said Laura had also not shown up for work. A search was conducted of the arroyo with the help of family members and friends, deputies from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State Police, Silver City Police and Fire, and New Mexico search and rescue. The search started at the Silver Heights/Highway 180 East Bridge and continued south through the arroyo.

At about 8:00 am, the first body, identified as James Morales, 47 years of age, from Silver City, was found in the arroyo about a half a mile south of the Silver Heights/Highway 180 East Bridge on the north side of the Hudson Street Bridge. The bridge is located near the intersection of 10th and Hudson Streets.

At about 11:00 am, the second body, identified as Laura Ortega, 57 years of age, from Silver City, was found about a half a mile further down in the arroyo from James on the northwest side of the Highway 90 South Bridge.

Preliminary investigation indicates Laura and James had been attending a concert at the Flame Convention Center and had left there between 12:30 and 12:45 am. At some point after leaving, they drove onto 19th street and into the fast moving water crossing 19th Street at the arroyo. The car was washed south about one tenth of a mile to the Silver Heights/Highway 180 East Bridge.

At this point in the investigation it is unknown who the driver was or if they attempted to get out of the car or were washed out by the fast moving water.