On Sunday, March 1st, 2015 at 11:26 p.m., the Pinal County Sheriff’s 9-1-1 Communications Center received a call regarding a single vehicle rollover collision in the area of Sundance Drive and War Dance Circle, San Tan Valley. The caller reported the vehicle was on fire and a female passenger was trapped inside.
Deputies, Fire and Medics all responded to the scene. When the first deputy arrived at the scene, he contacted the driver of the vehicle, who first identified himself as Joseph Thompson but later admitted his name was Joseph Wilson, age 21 of San Tan Valley. He said he lied about his name because he thought he had a warrant for his arrest out of Texas. Wilson pulled out a “wad of cash” and attempted to hand it to the deputy and said, “It doesn’t have to be like this.”
The vehicle was fully engulfed and quickly exploded. Wilson told the deputy he uses “102 Octane Racing Fuel” in his 1965 Ford Roadster. The fire department was able to extinguish the flames and deputies could see there was a female, who was deceased in the front passenger’s seat. The female is believed to be a 27-year-old female from San Tan Valley. Detectives will wait for the Medical Examiner’s Office to confirm her identity before her name is released.
A witness at the scene reported the victim, Wilson and others had been at San Tan Flats Bar drinking alcohol. Wilson said he was giving the female a ride home in his vehicle.
Deputies asked Wilson about the crash and his reply was he didn’t know what he was going to do because that car was his life.
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Vehicular Crimes Unit responded and took over the investigation. It was determined Wilson was driving the vehicle at a high rate of speed (60 to 70 mph) westbound on Sundance Road. He lost control of the vehicle and it drove into the desert area, knocked down a fence and rolled over. The vehicle was approximately 100-feet from the roadway when it came to rest.
Wilson was transported to Scottsdale Memorial Hospital, where he was treated and released a short time ago for injuries he sustained during the crash. A blood sample was collected and will be tested for its alcohol concentration by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Joseph Wilson stated, “While Joseph Wilson may have thought his car was the most important thing in his life, he will soon realize his decision to get behind the wheel of his vehicle while impaired by alcohol and causing a crash, which claimed the life of his passenger will be the worst decision he could have made. Earlier today, Wilson was booked into the Maricopa County Jail for Manslaughter, Bribery and False Reporting to a Law Enforcement Agency. Alcohol impaired crashes are completely avoidable. If you’re going to drink have a designated driver.”