Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald
By Jon Johnson
GRAHAM COUNTY – Four juveniles were thrown from a truck during a rollover on Stockton Road on Friday, Sept. 13, but they and the two other juveniles who stayed in the vehicle miraculously only suffered minor injuries.
According to a Graham County Sheriff’s Office report released today, a male driver was accompanied by two female occupants in the truck while three male occupants rode in the truck’s bed. The youths range in age from 13 – 16.
Shortly after 5 p.m., the truck was northbound on Stockton Road when it began to fishtail while going around a left curve in the road. The truck then slid into a road bank/hill on the south side of the road and rolled over. The truck eventually came to rest facing north with the back half of the vehicle off the road, according to the report.
Neither of the two female occupants in the truck were wearing seatbelts and one of them was ejected through the open window. All three male occupants in the truck bed were also ejected, with one of them stating that they were thrown from the truck and then it rolled over them.
The males were examined at the scene and were released to their parents. The females (ages 13 and 16) were taken to Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center, where X-Rays and CT scans came back negative for any broken bones or other internal injuries and they were released to their parents and guardians as well. One of the female occupants (age 13) complained of a leg and foot injury and both had reported head injuries prior to being taken to the hospital.
The deputy reported that the cause of the crash was due to the driver going too fast and losing control on the dirt road. It did not list if any citations were given.
