DPS PRESS RELEASE:
Six people lost their lives on Arizona highways during the three day weekend in five separate collisions. The collisions occurred statewide and included the following:
On May 22, 2009, at 8:38 a.m., a tan Cadillac was westbound on Interstate 10 about 12 miles east of Quartzsite when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle went off the road and rolled killing a passenger riding in the vehicle
Passenger-Deceased: Alprentice R. Smith, 37, Pomona, California
On May 24, 2009, at 1:33 a.m., a White Chevrolet pickup truck was traveling southbound on the Loop 303 at milepost six in Litchfield Park when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle went left of center and collided head-on with a semi-truck loaded with produce. The driver of the pickup truck was pronounced dead at the scene.
Vehicle #1 White Chevrolet pickup truck
Driver- Deceased: Nathan R. Pederson, 33, Avondale
On May 25, 2009, at 9:47 p.m., a grey Chevrolet Tahoe was traveling westbound on Interstate 40 near Holbrook when, for some unknown reason, the vehicle struck a guardrail and rolled, ejecting the passenger riding in the vehicle.
Passenger-deceased: Candice Long, 47, Glendale
Driver-injured: Samuel Long, 44, Glendale/admitted Little Colorado Medical Center
On May 25, 2009, at 3:05 p.m., a Ford Expedition SUV was traveling southbound on Interstate 15 at milepost 26.5 (near the Utah border) when a tire failure contributed to the driver losing control, causing the vehicle to roll in the median. Six people onboard the vehicle were ejected. Ten were transported to Dixie Regional Hospital. A total of 11 people were riding in the van.
Passenger-deceased: Jose Alvarez, 29, Panorama City, California
Driver-uninjured: Martha Anaya, 35, Panorama City, California
*On May 25, 2009, at 9:27 p.m., a wrong way driver traveling southbound on the northbound lanes of Interstate 17 struck an SUV head-on along with three other vehicles. We have two confirmed fatalities from that collision. Identities have not been released pending notification of family.*
