The fire was put out initially with a fire extinguisher.
By Jon Johnson
BYLAS – A hearse transporting a body caught fire while traveling on U.S. Highway 70 on March 11.
At about 1:11 p.m., Graham County dispatch alerted first responders to the scene on U.S. Highway 70 near mile marker 302, just east of Bylas.
A San Carlos Police officer was already on the scene prior to the arrival of a Graham County Sheriff’s Office deputy and a fire extinguisher was used to put out the fire, according to a Graham County Sheriff’s Office report. The Fort Thomas Fire Department still responded to the scene and made sure the fire was completely out.
A cursory examination showed the rear driver’s side wheel was detached from the axle. Additionally, a witness who was driving behind the hearse reported seeing sparks from the wheel area and then flames as the hearse pulled over to the side of the road.
The vehicle was removed by Nuttall’s Towing out of Safford, and the funeral home removed the casket without further incident. There were no injuries.
This article was amended at 11:30 a.m.
