The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is investigating a sinkhole scare in Queen Creek. What turned out to be a washout from irrigation appeared 500 yards away from a sinkhole that claimed the life of a farm worker earlier this month.
According to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, there are no injuries after the irrigation wash was discovered on Sunday. MCSO said it is near a sinkhole that opened up near Power and Ocotillo roads earlier this month.
What was reported to MCSO to be a sinkhole near Queen Creek appears to simply be a washout from irrigation. Field road only affected.
— Chris Hegstrom (@MCSOChris) February 22, 2016
A 60-year-old farm worker was killed when the sinkhole emerged near a field. The man's body was recovered out of the 15-foot-wide hole after crews spent several hours at the site. MCSO said witnesses reported seeing Guadalupe GomezNila get out of his truck and disappearing a short time later. Officials say the man was walking to the back of the truck and taking off his work belt when he was swallowed into the ground.
No additional details have been released of the irrigation washout. Deputies will be in the area of Power and Ocotillo roads investigating and making sure no one goes near it.
