On Friday, September 20th, at 6:20 p.m. the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call reporting a single vehicle serious injury rollover accident. The driver of the truck, Jose Espinoza, age 25, of Maricopa and his six-year-old son, Isaiah, were not wearing their seatbelts and both were ejected.
When deputies arrived on the scene in the area of Ralston Road, north of Peters Road outside of Maricopa, they determined that the 1991 Toyota truck had been traveling northbound on Ralston Road when it veered off the roadway to the right. When the driver attempted to steer the vehicle back onto the roadway it flipped and rolled several times.
Espinoza received non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Isaiah received life threatening injuries and was transported to Maricopa Medical Center where he was later pronounced deceased.
Jose Espinoza was suspected of being impaired by both alcohol and marijuana at the time of the collision.
Sheriff Paul Babeu stated, “At the conclusion of this investigation, detectives will submit charges to the Pinal County Attorney’s Office and request Mr. Espinoza be charged with manslaughter for the death of his six-year-old son. There is no excuse for impaired driving. Far too many people die on our roadways every year as a result of this inexcusable crime.”