At approx. 10:30 a.m. Sunday morning, Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the intersection of Willow Creek Road and Pioneer Parkway in Prescott regarding a single vehicle crash involving a 2012 white Volkswagen Passat. The driver, Byron Drury, 79, had a passenger in the vehicle identified as Brian Shields, 45.
Both men, from Chino Valley, were trapped in the vehicle. The Volkswagen was traveling north on Willow Creek Road apparently attempting a turn to east Pioneer Parkway when it struck a power pole.
It took fire officials nearly an hour to safely remove the driver of the VW who was flown from the scene to Flagstaff Medical Center.
The passenger was transported to Yavapai Regional Medical Center in Prescott then flown to a Phoenix area Hospital – his conditional is listed as stable.
There is NO indication DUI was a factor and no other vehicles were involved.
An APS worker was present to evaluate the power pole’s stability subsequent to the crash. Yavapai County Sheriff Officers blocked lanes of traffic for over an hour to allow for the safety of first responders and permit the helicopter to land on the parkway.
Deputies have not had a chance to interview the occupants at this time due to their medical conditions and continue the investigation.