Inattentive commercial truck driver causes police pursuit

Fort Thomas High School

Chase ends peacefully in Fort Thomas

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

PIMA — On Wednesday, Jan. 8, a high-speed chase concluded without injury in the parking lot of Fort Thomas High School after a red Freightliner semi-truck with a blue trailer was spotted speeding through Pima. 

The incident began at approximately 8:36 a.m. when an anonymous caller alerted dispatch about the vehicle traveling westbound on Highway 70 near Main Street, moving at an estimated speed of 70 mph in a 35 mph zone. 

A patrolling officer, initially heading east near mile marker 327, spotted the semi and confirmed its speed with radar at 70 mph. By this time, the speed limit on the highway had increased to 65 mph. The officer then turned around to follow the truck, pacing it at 75 mph over two miles. Despite the officer’s attempts to stop the vehicle using emergency lights, sirens, and an air horn, the semi did not stop until it reached the Fort Thomas High School parking lot after a pursuit covering roughly seven miles.

Upon stopping, the driver, identified as Chyngyz Kamarov from Illinois, complied with police commands at gunpoint. Kamarov, who has only had his commercial driver’s license for nearly a year, explained he had not seen or heard the police signals due to high winds, speed, and vehicle configuration. 

Following the stop, Kamarov, the vehicle’s only occupant, was briefly detained. His Miranda Rights were read, and he was interviewed. Kamarov was then issued a civil citation under A.R.S. 28-701.A for speeding above the posted limit. The officer advised Kamarov to check his mirrors more frequently, to which Kamarov agreed and understood the citation’s implications.

Kamarov was then released at the scene and continued westbound on Highway 70.