By Jon Johnson
’jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com
SAFFORD – One person died at the scene of a single-vehicle crash in Safford on Thursday. The driver was identified as Tanner Larson, 41, a lifelong resident of the Gila Valley.
The collision occurred at about 2:30 p.m, when a white Chevy Colorado failed to navigate the roadway near the intersection of 15th Street and U.S. Highway 191 in Safford, ran over a stop sign and ended up in a tree.. The area is within city limits.
Multiple first responders responded to the scene, including the Safford Police Department and Safford Fire Department. The collision forced the highway to be closed for about an hour. At about 3:25 p.m., both lanes of travel were rerouted to the northbound lanes until the highway fully reopened at about 6:10 p.m., according to updates from the city of Safford.
The Safford Police Department confirmed the collision was a single vehicle with a single occupant.
The crash is under investigation by the Safford Police Department.
Funeral services for Tanner Larson will be conducted Friday morning, Dec. 5, at 10 a.m., at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Safford Twentieth Street Chapel by Bishop Russell Carter of the Safford Lone Star Ward. Concluding services will follow in the Graham Cemetery.
