Two deceased in Highway 70 crash on reservation land

The AZDPS has advised two people lost their lives in a head-on crash on U.S. Highway 70 on Monday.

Gila Herald Staff Reports

GRAHAM COUNTY – Two people are deceased after a head-on collision between two vehicles on U.S. Highway 70 on San Carlos Apache Reservation land Monday morning. The crash took place near milepost 271 in the Peridot area.

According to Arizona Department of Public Safety Information Officer Bart Graves, a passenger vehicle was westbound on Highway 70 at about 8:12 a.m. when it crossed the dashed yellow line into the eastbound lane. An eastbound van swerved and avoided contacting the passenger car, but a sedan was unable to and was struck head on.

The driver of the sedan was found deceased at the scene. The at-fault driver of the passenger vehicle was taken to a hospital but was pronounced deceased as well.

DPS believes distracted driving may have been a factor on the part of the at-fault driver.