Walt Mares File Photo/Gila Herald: Thumb Butte, at center background, is at the Greenlee-Graham counties line in the Black Hills between Safford and Clifton. A two-vehicle head-on collision closed the highway just south of the county line, at milepost 143, for a few hours, and multiple people were airlifted and hospitalized. This photo was taken near milepost 140 in March 2019.
By Jon Johnson
GREENLEE COUNTY – A two-vehicle head-on collision between a van and sedan closed U.S. Highway 191 in the Black Hills area for roughly three hours Thursday morning and at least one patient was flown to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the Department of Public Safety.
According to reports, two helicopters airlifted two victims to hospitals in Tucson and Phoenix for treatment, one with a life-threatening injury. As of 10 p.m., DPS advises there are currently no fatalities in the crash.
According to the DPS, the crash occurred just before 5 a.m. and the roadway was reopened at about 8:30 a.m.
A total of six people were injured, with multiple head injuries reported. Four of the injured were transported by ground ambulance to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center.
The collision occurred at about milepost 143 in the Black Hills and the cause is still under investigation.
