Jon Johnson File Photo/Gila Herald
Man claims he was speeding at more than double the limit due to crying baby, while two trucks were caught racing at 36 mph over the posted speed limit
By Jon Johnson
jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com
SAFFORD – Three drivers were given citations for criminal speeding last week in two different incidents in the same area of U.S. Highway 70.
The first incident involved occurred Friday, April 19, at about 2:13 p.m. when an eastbound man was clocked driving 75 mph in a 35-mph-zone on U.S. Highway 70.
A Safford officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle near Hollywood Road and the driver, identified as Edwin Albarran, said he was driving so fast in an effort to hurry and get home because his baby was crying. In addition to Albarran, there was a male front seat passenger, a female rear seat passenger, and a baby in a car seat in the back.
The officer issued Albarran a citation for criminal speed exceeding 20 mph over the posted speed limit and released him.
The second incident involved two white diesel trucks caught allegedly racing in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 20.
According to a Safford Police report, an officer was parked near the intersection of 3rd Avenue and U.S. Highway 70 at about 12:55 a.m. when the two trucks passed him at a high rate of speed. The officer noted he could hear the trucks rapidly accelerate and that it was clear they were traveling well above the posted 35-mph speed limit.
The officer caught up to the trucks, which were traveling side-by-side even after the highway merged into one lane, near E. Hollywood Road and confirmed they were going 81 mph at that point, which was in a 45-mph-zone.
The officer initiated a traffic stop on both trucks near Copper Canyon Drive and spoke with the first driver, identified as Joshua Barlow, who was in a Ford pickup. Barlow allegedly advised that he had hit the gas and the pedal got stuck on his floor mat and held it down.
The second driver, identified as Veronica young, said her boyfriend (Barlow) was driving fast to try and show her up so she decided to match his speed.
Both Barlow and Young were given citations for racing on the highway and criminal speeding exceeding 20 mph over the posted speed limit and were released.
