On March 9, Pinal County Sheriff deputies were called out to the intersection of San Tan Hills Drive and Boulder Creek Drive for a vehicle verses pedestrian collision. The accident happened near Skyline Ranch Elementary.
A 14-year-old girl was crossing the street and was struck by a vehicle because the driver of an SUV failed to stop at the stop sign. He was making a left turn when he struck the teen head on. The girl was thrown from the front of the SUV and sustained extensive “road rash” injuries to both legs as well as minor facial and head trauma. She was alert and conscious when first responders arrived. The juvenile was transported to the hospital for her injuries.
During the course of the investigation, deputies learned the driver of the SUV was showing signs and symptoms of impairment due to recent marijuana use. The male is a medical marijuana card holder.
“This is the sad but alarming reality of what can happen when people decide to use drugs or alcohol and get behind the wheel. This incident happened the week after our deputies did school zone traffic enforcement at 10 difference schools in San Tan Valley. Four people were arrested for driving under the influence during that operation. Just because you have a medical marijuana card, doesn’t mean you can still drive impaired. This situation could have been a lot worse and hopefully it makes anyone think twice before they decide to drive while impaired,” said Sheriff Mark Lamb.
The driver was arrested. The name of the “suspect cannot be released because the blood test hasn’t come back,” according to Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Navideh Forghani. The driver admitted to using marijuana the night before. He is a 32 years old.
Charges including DUI, aggravated assault, and felony endangerment are pending the results of a toxicology screen from a blood specimen taken from the adult male.