Current:Home > FinanceDriver fatigue likely led to Arizona crash that killed 2 bicyclists and injured 14, NTSB says -AssetLink
Driver fatigue likely led to Arizona crash that killed 2 bicyclists and injured 14, NTSB says
View
Date:2025-04-13 04:30:27
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — Fatigue likely led to a pickup truck driver’s crash last year that killed two bicyclists and injured 14 other riders on a bridge in a Phoenix suburb, authorities said Tuesday.
The National Transportation Safety Board released its final report about the February 2023 crash on the Cotton Lane Bridge in Goodyear, 19 miles (30 kilometers) west of Phoenix. It said a major factor in the collision was the driver’s “diminished state of alertness, likely due to fatigue.”
Contributing to the severity of the bicyclists’ injuries was the driver’s speed and lack of response once the crash sequence began, according to the NTSB report.
Pedro Quintana-Lujan, 27, was originally booked into a Phoenix jail on suspicion of manslaughter, aggravated assault, endangerment and causing serious injury or death by a moving violation.
A charging document initially released by Goodyear police said Quintana-Lujan told officers the day of the crash that he was driving in the left of two northbound lanes of the bridge when his steering locked and he drifted into the vacant right lane, then into the adjacent bike lane where he heard “a sound similar to metal.”
But a preliminary NTSB report said two investigators separately checked his truck and found no issues.
A later NTSB report said Quintana-Lujan smoked marijuana the night before the Feb. 25 crash into the group of Phoenix area cyclists.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said Quintana-Lujan had a small amount of THC — the principal psychoactive constituent of cannibas —in his system, but noted that Arizona law doesn’t set a standard for proving impairment by THC only.
County prosecutors declined to pursue felony charges, saying there wasn’t enough evidence.
The case was sent back to the Goodyear Prosecutor’s Office where 11 misdemeanor charges were filed against Quintana-Lujan. He is facing a jail sentence if convicted.
Goodyear Municipal Court officials said Quintana-Lujan has a pre-trial conference on Oct. 16
A call to Phoenix attorney David Cantor, whose law firm is representing Quintana-Lujan, was not immediately returned on Tuesday.
veryGood! (69313)
Related
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- USA Hockey will mandate neck laceration protection for players under 18 effective Aug. 1
- Pope Francis congratulates Italy after tennis player Jannik Sinner wins the Australian Open
- Britney Spears Shows Support for Justin Timberlake After Release of New Single
- Family of explorer who died in the Titan sub implosion seeks $50M-plus in wrongful death lawsuit
- Taylor Swift and Jason Kelce Support Travis Kelce at AFC Championship
- Shares of building materials maker Holcim jump as it plans to list unit in the US
- Let's do this again, shall we? Chiefs, 49ers running it back in Super Bowl 58
- 51-year-old Andy Macdonald puts on Tony Hawk-approved Olympic skateboard showing
- Russian election officials register Putin to run in March election he’s all but certain to win
Ranking
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- Why are EU leaders struggling to unlock a 50-billion-euro support package for Ukraine?
- Taylor Swift Kisses Travis Kelce After Chiefs Win AFC Championship to Move on to Super Bowl
- Lions are being forced to change the way they hunt. It's all because of a tiny invasive ant, scientists say.
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- Ashley Park Shares Health Update After Hospitalization for Septic Shock
- Super Bowl-bound: Kansas City Chiefs' six-step plan to upsetting the Baltimore Ravens
- Wisconsin woman involved in Slender Man attack as child seeks release from psychiatric institute
Recommendation
Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
'American Fiction,' 'Poor Things' get box-office boost from Oscar nominations
Oklahoma trooper violently thrown to the ground as vehicle on interstate hits one he’d pulled over
Malaysia charges former minister for not declaring assets, as graft probe targets allies of ex-PM
Taylor Swift Cancels Austria Concerts After Confirmation of Planned Terrorist Attack
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson catches own pass. That's right, Gisele, he throws and catches ball
Police in Rome detain man who had knife in bag on boulevard leading to Vatican, Italian media say
Central Park 5 exoneree and council member says police stopped him without giving a reason