On Saturday, February 21st, 2015 at 6:45 p.m. the Pinal County Sheriff’s 9-1-1 Communications Center received a call regarding an all-terrain vehicle accident at North Whitlow Dam Road, Queen Valley. The caller reported the all-terrain vehicle had rolled multiple times. The driver was unconscious but breathing and the three female juvenile passengers were all injured.
PCSO deputies along with the Queen Valley Fire Department responded to the scene. An air ambulance was also dispatched.
The driver of the Polaris 800 Razor was later identified as Kimberly Charles Hopkins, age 57 of Mesa. He stopped breathing during treatment and medics immediately began Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
Unfortunately Mr. Hopkins did not respond and was pronounced deceased at the scene. There were three female passengers who were all ejected during the crash.
A nine-year-old female was transported by air ambulance to a hospital for head injuries, an eight-year-old female was transported to a hospital by ground ambulance for facial injuries and another nine-year-old female was transported by ground ambulance for a broken collar bone.
The investigation determined Mr. Hopkins had been driving the Polaris Razor at the time of the crash. The vehicles right side tires went off the roadway and the vehicle tumbled down a fifteen to twenty foot hillside. At this time it is not known if alcohol was a factor.
Sheriff Paul Babeu stated, “This all-terrain vehicle was only equipped to carry the driver and one passenger. None of the occupants were seat belted in at the time of the crash. When the vehicle rolled down the hill it landed on top of Mr. Hopkins. This case is a tragic reminder of the importance of only carrying the number of passengers a vehicle is designed for and to always wear your seatbelt.”