A Safford man is facing charges after rolling his ATV and leaving the scene of the accident that sent his passengers to the Emergency Room.
Deputies made contact with the passengers at Mount Graham Regional Medical Center where they were being treated for various injuries. One of the back seat passengers was being prepared to be flown to St Joseph’s in Tucson for treatment of his arm, which was severely injured when the ATV rolled over.
The man said that he and his friends were at a bonfire when they were told by someone that cops were there to find someone who had been shooting a gun. When they heard that people were being stopped by law enforcement, they decided to leave the party and take the back way home. The man said that he and some other people climbed into his friends ATV and took the back way by Blue Ponds to avoid contact with law enforcement.
The driver accelerated at one point in an attempt to pass an ATV in front of them that was kicking up a lot of dust, but the ATV rolled over when they tried to take a turn too fast. The man said that he tried to catch himself as the Razor rolled over, but his arm ended up under the vehicle. He refused to tell the authorities who was driving the ATV.
The ATV was located at the scene of the accident. Deputies found the name of the owner in the vehicle’s registration. They attempted to call him multiple times with no response. He was eventually found at his home where deputies made contact with him.
When asked why he left the scene of an accident that sent his passengers to the hospital. He said that he felt fine and knew that somebody else was taking his passengers to the hospital, so he left his ATV at the scene and got a ride home. The man initially claimed he had not been drinking but eventually said that his last drink was hours before the accident.
The driver was placed under arrest for leaving the scene of an accident and booked into the Graham County Jail. He is facing charges of driving under the Influence, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident with physical injuries, endangerment x 4 and aggravated assault.
