PEARCE — Three people died and nine others injured in a single-vehicle crash Thursday evening.
Arizona Department of Public Safety reports that, at about 9:07 p.m., a passenger van traveling south on U.S. Highway 191, at milepost 36 in northern Cochise County, crashed.
The van was carrying 12 people, three of whom were ejected in the crash. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
Four others suffered serious injuries and were airlifted to Tucson hospitals. Two of the victims are reported in critical condition and the other two are in stable condition.
The five remaining passengers were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
The crash forced the closure of Highway 191 for about eight hours, re-opening to traffic at about 5 a.m.
Identities of the victims and cause of the crash have not yet been released. DPS reports the incident remains under investigation.
