Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald: A UTV passenger was flown to a Tucson hospital in a helicopter like this one in an attempt to save his arm after being badly injured in a rollover. The driver is being investigated for DUI and was arrested.
Passenger’s arm badly injured
By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A dreamy night hanging out by a desert bonfire turned into a nightmare early Saturday morning after a man allegedly impaired with alcohol crashed his 2021 Polaris side-by-side UTV, severely injuring at least one of his passengers.
By sunrise, Fernando Gonzales III was placed under arrest for DUI, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, four counts of endangerment, and aggravated assault.
Staff at the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center (MGRMC) called police at about 2:40 a.m. after multiple patients from the same crash were brought in by various personal vehicles. The rear passenger seat occupant, identified as Jonathan McCamy, suffered extensive damage to his right arm.
McCamy was flown to a Tucson hospital for treatment but before leaving MGRMC he recalled how the crash occurred. He said the group was hanging out at a bonfire when they got spooked by a report of police in the area looking for a side-by-side. The group decided to leave and were eastbound from Frye Mesa heading toward Daley Estates. He said an ATV in front was creating some dust and the other passengers were encouraging the driver to go faster. He said they were traveling at too high of a speed to negotiate a curve and the UTV flipped. When that happened, McCamy went to catch himself and his arm ended up pinned underneath the side-by-side.
According to Jonathan McCamy’s GoFundMe page, he used a belt as a tourniquet to help save himself after being injured in the crash.
Two other rear-seat occupants, Anthony Dominguez, and Araceli Martinez, were also seen at MGRMC for injuries sustained in the crash.
However, the driver was not at the hospital, nor was he at the crash scene. Officers soon learned the crashed UTV’s registered owner was listed as Fernando Gonzales III, and after not initially being able to contact him, officers received a phone call from Gonzales stating he wanted to talk about the crash.
Gonzales was then contacted at a residence off Safford/Bryce Road. During questioning, he advised that he was going too fast and his passenger (identified as Nicolas Guerrero) accidentally grabbed the steering wheel instead of the handlebar. Gonzales said he then overcorrected and flipped the UTV. He said other vehicles took the passengers to the hospital (including Guerrero) and said since he only had minor scratches and bruises he had a friend take him home. Gonzales said since he felt fine and everyone else had been taken to the hospital he didn’t feel the need to call the authorities, according to the Sheriff’s Office report.
After initially denying drinking any alcohol, Gonzales allegedly said he had four or five Twisted Teas, which is a hard iced tea. Twisted Tea is made with real brewed tea, natural flavors, and a malt base made from beer and has an alcohol by volume of 5%, which is also similar to most beer.
Gonzales was then placed under arrest for DUI, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident, four counts of endangerment, and aggravated assault.
After a blood sample was taken for testing purposes, Gonzales was transported to his residence and released. Charges are pending DPS Lab test analysis and review by the Graham County Attorney’s Office.
