A family trip to the mountains turned into a nightmare for a Fort Bliss soldier and his loved ones after powerful flash floods swept through Ruidoso, New Mexico, on Tuesday, killing two young children and leaving their parents hospitalized with serious injuries.
Charlotte and Sebastian Trotter, ages 4 and 7, were among the three confirmed dead after torrential monsoon rains caused the Rio Ruidoso to overflow, destroying homes and sweeping away campers staying at Riverside RV Park. A third victim, an unidentified man believed to be between 40 and 50 years old, was also found dead downstream.
The Trotter family had been on approved leave from Fort Bliss, the Army confirmed, visiting the mountain resort town about 130 miles north of El Paso. Both parents were injured in the flooding and are currently being treated at a hospital in Texas.
“Our hearts are heavy with grief following this devastating loss,” said Brig. Gen. Rory Crooks, deputy commanding general of the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss. “The entire Fort Bliss community extends our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this tragedy.”
The Army is withholding the names of the parents out of respect for their privacy and in accordance with Department of Defense policy.
A Community in Mourning
News of the children’s deaths spread quickly on social media, where a woman identifying herself as their aunt posted a desperate plea for help in locating them after they went missing during the flood. Their bodies were recovered after an extensive search by local authorities and emergency responders.
Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford, speaking on local radio Wednesday morning, described the tragedy as heartbreaking.
“Our hearts are broken, our stomachs are in knots over the fact that we have lost these folks,” said Crawford.
El Paso officials echoed the grief. Mayor Renard Johnson and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar both issued statements offering condolences and pledging support.
“We are especially heartbroken to learn that two of the young children were from El Paso and part of the Fort Bliss family — a reminder of how tightly our communities are connected,” said Mayor Johnson. “We mourn with the families in New Mexico during this painful time and pray for the bereaved.”
Clarifying the Confusion
Initial reports mistakenly identified Midtown Mountain Campground & RV Park as the site of the incident, prompting the park’s management to issue a public clarification.
“Our hearts are with the family… and all those impacted by the devastating flash flood,” the campground wrote on Facebook. “We kindly ask our community and visitors to help stop the spread of misinformation.”
The actual flooding occurred two miles away at Riverside RV Park, where the victims had been staying when the river swelled to historic levels — reportedly rising to 20 feet, five feet above the previous record.
A Perfect Storm
The region, still scarred from last year’s wildfires, was especially vulnerable to flash floods. With vegetation burned away, the soil couldn’t absorb the intense rainfall, resulting in rapid runoff that turned creeks into raging torrents.
Footage shared on social media shows homes being lifted and swept away by the powerful current. Recovery efforts are ongoing, and the full extent of the damage is still being assessed.
Back at Fort Bliss, the effects of the same storm were felt as nearly 20 utility poles collapsed along Bradley Road, forcing the closure of Buffalo Gate and prompting infrastructure repairs.
Grief Across State Lines
Tuesday’s disaster comes on the heels of a devastating stretch of deadly flooding across the Southwest. More than 100 lives have been lost in central Texas this summer, including children attending summer camps.
“My heart is with them, their loved ones and the entire Fort Bliss family as they go through this incredibly difficult time,” said Rep. Escobar.
As the Fort Bliss community rallies around the grieving family, the tragic loss of two innocent children serves as a sobering reminder of the unpredictable power of nature — and the fragility of the moments we often take for granted.
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