The Graham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating whether alcohol was a contributing factor in a rollover crash June 29.
By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – Authorities are investigating if alcohol was a contributing factor to a rollover crash in the area of 4245 W. Safford/Bryce Road on Friday, June 29.
According to a news release from the Graham County Sheriff’s Office, Samantha Johnson, 27, of Safford, was westbound on Safford/Bryce Road at a high rate of speed when the white, SUV she was driving apparently went slightly off the road onto the northern dirt shoulder.
According to evidence at the scene, the SUV seemingly overcorrected and went across both lanes of traffic onto the southern dirt shoulder, where it then rolled into the desert area to the west of Watson Wash.
First responders were dispatched to the scene at about 5:20 p.m. and located Johnson, who had apparently been ejected from the SUV during the rollover.
Johnson was initially taken to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center by ground ambulance but was then flown to Banner-University Medical Center Tucson for treatment of broken bones and possible internal injuries, according to the release.
A witness at the scene heard a baby crying and discovered a 2-year-old boy in a car seat. The witness then crawled into the SUV, which was at rest upside down, and removed the infant from the car seat.
The child was seemingly uninjured and was later given to family members who arrived at the scene.
The Sheriff’s Office release states the crash is still under investigation but that “alcohol may have been involved.”
