By Jon Johnson
BYLAS – Three helicopters transported three injured people from the scene of a head-on collision just west of Bylas on U.S. Highway 70 on Thursday afternoon.
Helicopter crews from AirEvac, LifeNet and NativeAir all responded to the scene, roughly two miles west of the Bylas Bridge.
Contributed Photo/Courtesy Diane Junion: Traffic was backed up for miles in each direction.
According to a witness account, first responders were called to help at about 4:30 p.m., when an eastbound vehicle attempted to pass another vehicle and moved into the westbound lane, where the driver failed to account for an oncoming, westbound SUV.
The westbound SUV then swerved into the eastbound lane to avoid a direct, head-on collision, and the two vehicles struck each other in the front on the passenger side. The third vehicle that was being passed up was struck by some debris, but was operable and reported no injuries.
The eastbound, at-fault vehicle had one occupant, who was flown from the scene. The westbound vehicle had two occupants, who were both flown from the scene. AirEvac took at least one patient to Desert Banner Medical Center in Mesa for treatment.
The incident is being investigated by the San Carlos Police Department.
Gila Valley Central will update this article if and when more information is released.
