Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Herald: The driver of this truck that got stuck in Cottonwood Wash the same night 4-year-old Maci Reed went missing in the wash is facing possible charges.
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A man who drove through the low water crossing of Cottonwood Wash during the storm Thursday, July 22, and got his truck stuck on 200 North is facing multiple charges, according to a Safford Police report.
The driver, identified as Kade Alton Good, 36, is facing possible charges of reckless driving, endangerment, and liability for emergency responses in flood areas.
Good was previously arrested for DUI, DUI-drug, criminal damage, reckless driving, and possession of drug paraphernalia, after he crashed a silver Land Rover SUV into the B&D Air Conditioning building at about 7 a.m. on April 6.
In that crash, witnesses advised the Land Rover was stopped at the intersection when it turned northbound onto 8th Avenue, jumped the curb, and went into the building. Multiple witnesses advised Good still had his foot on the gas well after having crashed through the building and one witness described finding Good unconscious behind the wheel.
On Thursday night, officers reported that first responders were out searching for 4-year-old flood victim Maci Reed when Good said he avoided the emergency vehicles on Highway 70 at the bridge by turning onto 200 North.
The road was closed due to running water in Cottonwood Wash, and a Pima firetruck was parked at the eastern entrance. The firefighter described seeing Good’s truck go straight into the wash at about 40 mph.
The officer advised that rescuers searching for Maci then had to divert to assist Good and his passenger as the truck was stuck and the water level was rising.
The firefighter advised that Good appeared disoriented upon hitting the water. The firefighter reportedly said that Good then began throwing items out of the vehicle and ignored emergency assistance.
A Safford officer then arrived at the scene with a DPS trooper and a deputy with the Graham County Sheriff’s Office. The officer reported the Chevy truck as being submerged to the top of its doors. However, Good and his passenger were non-compliant with officers’ commands. According to the officer’s report, Good was “reluctant to turn the vehicle off” and wanted to call someone to come pull out the truck.
Good and his passenger were ordered out of the truck and were removed through the passenger side window in 5-foot-deep swiftly moving water. The report advised that the water level continued to rise during the rescue. Both Good and his passenger were escorted to safety and the truck was left in the wash.
While the officer described’s Good’s behavior as “very odd”, no significant signs of impairment were observed. He and his passenger were later picked up by a relative. Good returned the following day and managed to free the truck as it was still in the water.
The Reed family got stuck in Cottonwood Wash roughly a half-mile south of where Good’s truck got stuck. Their crossing was on private property off a farm road, while Good attempted to cross on a town of Pima Road with signs advising against doing so when water is present in the wash.
Due to Good’s failure to follow the posted signs, the officer requested the above-listed charges be forwarded to prosecutors.
