Elderly Safford couple deceased after collision in San Carlos

Contributed Photo: An elderly Safford couple died after being involved in a vehicular collision with a San Carlos Police Department officer on U.S. Highway 70 east of Globe on Friday.

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

SAN CARLOS – An elderly Safford couple was fatally injured Friday after being involved in a vehicle collision with a San Carlos Police officer on U.S. Highway 70.

According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety Public Information Office, the crash occurred at about 1:36 p.m. at milepost 264, which is west of Peridot and about 14 miles east of Globe. The collision forced the closure of U.S. Highway 70, and both lanes were not fully opened for about eight hours, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The officer was westbound in an unmarked vehicle when he began to make a U-turn in order to travel eastbound. A passenger car driven by Susan Biggs, 74, of Safford, was eastbound and collided with the front right corner of the unmarked police vehicle, according to the DPS. The police vehicle rolled onto its roof and the passenger went off to the south side of the roadway.

Contributed Photo: From left, Susan and Thomas Biggs

Susan’s passenger, her husband, Thomas Biggs, 79, was deceased at the scene. Susan was transported to a nearby hospital and was pronounced deceased there. The officer was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Thomas previously served as the first counselor in The Gila Valley Arizona Temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Susan served as an assistant to the matron.

The collision is currently still under investigation by the DPS.