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Another tragedy strikes Highway 69
Accident involves 4 vehicles,claims 2 lives
By HILARY ELLER
The Daily Courier
PRESCOTT VALLEY – Two Mayer women died Tuesday morning as the result of a four-vehicle accident that occurred around 6:45 a.m. on Highway 69 between Great Western Boulevard and Sundog Ranch Road near Castle Golf.
According to a press release from the Prescott Valley Police Department (PVPD), investigators believe that John Vincent Michael II, 25, of Dewey, was eastbound in a 1996 Ford Bronco on Highway 69 at a high rate of speed when the vehicle crossed the double line into westbound traffic and sideswiped a 1985 Ford pickup, which Patrick Wheatcraft, 38, of Prescott Valley, was driving.
The Bronco continued westbound and hit a 2003 Nissan Altima, according to the report, and the driver of that vehicle, Sandi Lopez, 32, and her mother, Sandra Lopez, 54, both of Mayer, died instantly upon impact.
Courier/Jo. L. Keener
A Prescott Valley Police officer investigates a double-fatal accident Tuesday on Highway 69 near Sundog Ranch Road. The early morning accident closed the westbound lanes for 2.5 hours.
The collision continued, striking a 1995 Nissan pickup that Patrick Moffatt, 42, of Prescott Valley, was driving.
Both Moffatt and Wheatcraft refused medical attention.
Emergency personnel airlifted Michael to John C. Lincoln Hospitalin Phoenix, although the report said that his injuries weren’t life threatening. Hospital personnel, at around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday, confirmed his condition as fair.
The report states that investigators at the scene located paraphernalia associated with methamphetamine use as well as two bundles of a white crystal substance that investigators believe is methamphetamine in Michael’s Bronco.
According to Arizona Superior Court records, Michael’s record includes November 2001 convictions for dangerous drug use and possession, drug paraphernalia possession and use, criminal damage ($100 to $1,500), forgery and theft of a credit card for obtaining means for fraud.
Battalion Chief Don Vasquez at Central Yavapai Fire District (CYFD) said two engine companies (53 and 533) and one battalion chief responded to the scene as well as two LifeLine ambulances. A Native American Air ambulance transported Michael to John C. Lincoln, he said.
PVPD officers closed one lane in each direction on Highway 69 and traffic backed up a half-mile to a mile in each direction for two and a half hours, according to PVPD Lt. P.J. Janik. Officers diverted westbound traffic up Great Western Boulevard to Sundog Ranch Road.
Janik said rush hour traffic, the high number of vehicles involved in the accident, and Michael’s quick transportation to a Phoenix hospital complicated the investigation. Investigators will analyze the evidence in Michael’s car, as well as his blood. Janik said a blood analysis could take from two to six weeks.
PVPD will continue the investigation.
Tuesday’s two fatalities bring to at least eight the number of people who have died in head-on accidents on highways 69 and 169 in the past three and a half months. Three fatalities occurred on Highway 69 at Diamond Valley in February. The other three people died in April just east of Young’s Farm on Highway 169.
Contact the reporter at heller@prescottaz.com
The Link; http://www.communitypapers.com/DAILYCOURIER/myarticles.asp?P=951260&S=400&PubID=12535
Accident involves 4 vehicles,claims 2 lives
By HILARY ELLER
The Daily Courier
PRESCOTT VALLEY – Two Mayer women died Tuesday morning as the result of a four-vehicle accident that occurred around 6:45 a.m. on Highway 69 between Great Western Boulevard and Sundog Ranch Road near Castle Golf.
According to a press release from the Prescott Valley Police Department (PVPD), investigators believe that John Vincent Michael II, 25, of Dewey, was eastbound in a 1996 Ford Bronco on Highway 69 at a high rate of speed when the vehicle crossed the double line into westbound traffic and sideswiped a 1985 Ford pickup, which Patrick Wheatcraft, 38, of Prescott Valley, was driving.
The Bronco continued westbound and hit a 2003 Nissan Altima, according to the report, and the driver of that vehicle, Sandi Lopez, 32, and her mother, Sandra Lopez, 54, both of Mayer, died instantly upon impact.
Courier/Jo. L. Keener
A Prescott Valley Police officer investigates a double-fatal accident Tuesday on Highway 69 near Sundog Ranch Road. The early morning accident closed the westbound lanes for 2.5 hours.
The collision continued, striking a 1995 Nissan pickup that Patrick Moffatt, 42, of Prescott Valley, was driving.
Both Moffatt and Wheatcraft refused medical attention.
Emergency personnel airlifted Michael to John C. Lincoln Hospitalin Phoenix, although the report said that his injuries weren’t life threatening. Hospital personnel, at around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday, confirmed his condition as fair.
The report states that investigators at the scene located paraphernalia associated with methamphetamine use as well as two bundles of a white crystal substance that investigators believe is methamphetamine in Michael’s Bronco.
According to Arizona Superior Court records, Michael’s record includes November 2001 convictions for dangerous drug use and possession, drug paraphernalia possession and use, criminal damage ($100 to $1,500), forgery and theft of a credit card for obtaining means for fraud.
Battalion Chief Don Vasquez at Central Yavapai Fire District (CYFD) said two engine companies (53 and 533) and one battalion chief responded to the scene as well as two LifeLine ambulances. A Native American Air ambulance transported Michael to John C. Lincoln, he said.
PVPD officers closed one lane in each direction on Highway 69 and traffic backed up a half-mile to a mile in each direction for two and a half hours, according to PVPD Lt. P.J. Janik. Officers diverted westbound traffic up Great Western Boulevard to Sundog Ranch Road.
Janik said rush hour traffic, the high number of vehicles involved in the accident, and Michael’s quick transportation to a Phoenix hospital complicated the investigation. Investigators will analyze the evidence in Michael’s car, as well as his blood. Janik said a blood analysis could take from two to six weeks.
PVPD will continue the investigation.
Tuesday’s two fatalities bring to at least eight the number of people who have died in head-on accidents on highways 69 and 169 in the past three and a half months. Three fatalities occurred on Highway 69 at Diamond Valley in February. The other three people died in April just east of Young’s Farm on Highway 169.
Contact the reporter at heller@prescottaz.com
The Link; http://www.communitypapers.com/DAILYCOURIER/myarticles.asp?P=951260&S=400&PubID=12535