On October 22, at approximately 1957 hours, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department received a 9-1-1 call about a young man who had fallen out of the bed of a pickup truck and was seriously injured. Deputies responded to the 5400 block of North Ventana Vista Road.
Earlier in the evening, four students from the Catalina Foothills High School football team chose to drive together in a pickup truck. The 17-year-old driver gave a ride to three of his teammates who lived in the vicinity of his home. One of his passengers was seated inside the cab and the other two chose to ride in the bed of the pickup truck. When they reached Ventana Vista Road, the vehicle was travelling southbound and the driver made the vehicle swerve on purpose multiple times. According to investigators, this occurred at low speeds of approximately 20 to 30 mph.
At one point, 16-year-old Stephen Joseph Jones, decided to stand up in the bed of the truck without the driver’s knowledge. It was at that time the driver chose to once again make the vehicle swerve. He moved the steering wheel from side to side, causing the vehicle to tilt. Jones lost his balance and fell out of the bed of the truck, hitting the concrete pavement with his head. He sustained serious injuries and was airlifted from the scene to University of Arizona Medical Center where he remains in critical, but stable condition.
Investigators did not find any evidence of impairment. No citations were issued. The investigation continues.