The tragedy unfolded as the family was returning from buying supplies for the granddaughter’s upcoming 8th‑birthday celebration. Their truck became mired in mud during a heavy‑rain storm, prompting Kalisi Begay to walk ahead while her mother and daughter stayed with the vehicle. As water levels rose rapidly, the grandmother, her granddaughter and Franklin, who had been called for help, attempted to cross a wash and were carried off by the surge.
Family members confirmed the deaths on Friday, describing the victims as beloved members of the community. Elsie Begay worked as a business technician at Sanostee Day School, where her granddaughter attended third grade. Franklin was a school bus driver, known for handing out candy to children. Their loss has left a deep void in a close‑knit Navajo community of roughly 400 residents.
The incident is part of a broader flash‑flooding event that has battered the Navajo Nation this week. Heavy monsoon moisture has triggered road damage, evacuations and isolated settlements across the Four Corners region. Navajo police reported that three families in Shiprock, New Mexico, were evacuated on Friday night as the San Juan River rose.
In response, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren declared a state of emergency on Friday, urging residents to use alternate routes, check on elders and follow guidance from emergency personnel. Roads remain closed in several areas, and the Mexican Springs Chapter House, about 40 miles south of Newcomb, has been converted into a temporary shelter. Volunteers are using ATVs to deliver food, water and supplies to stranded households.
Local maintenance worker Darnell Etsitty described the damage: “A lot of ditches are washed out, the culvert pipes are gone. There’s big old, massive holes in the road.” He and other crews are working to build alternate routes to restore access. Stella Wilson, Begay’s niece, appealed for patience as families await assistance, emphasizing the need to keep other households safe.