A report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has intensified scrutiny on the claims of a truck driver involved in a deadly accident with cyclists in Arizona. The crash, which occurred on February 25, 2023, on a bridge in Goodyear, resulted in two fatalities and injures to 17 other riders. According to the findings, released Wednesday, technicians observed the truck's steering to be operational, contradicting driver Pedro Quintana-Lujan's assertion that it had locked up.
Pedro Quintana-Lujan, 27, was initially taken into custody facing multiple charges, including two counts of manslaughter and aggravated assault, following the accident. However, these charges were dropped after a further investigation was requested by Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. An NTSB report, casting doubt on Quintana-Lujan's account, could prompt a reevaluation of the case, although it remains unclear if the Goodyear City Prosecutor's Office will file new charges, as email inquiries by USNews.com went unanswered.
The truck, hauling a trailer packed with work materials, veered into the bike lane on the Cotton Lane Bridge, as per Quintana-Lujan's account, after he lost control due to the purported steering malfunction. A collision reconstruction by police indicated that upon entering the bike lane, the truck also rammed into a concrete barrier, leaving evident tire marks and striking several cyclists, as detailed in a statement obtained by 12news.com. The event has deeply affected the local cycling community, which promotes group rides for safety.
Last Sunday, a commemorative ride was organized in Goodyear, which included cycling crash survivors. "I think it will not be a start, but it will bring an end and bring an emotional closure," stated survivor Clay Wells to AZFamily.com, marking his return to group cycling since the incident. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has reiterated that two independent vehicle evaluations found no malfunctions, leaving the truth behind the crash's cause yet to be confirmed.
