The aftermath of a tragic crash in Goodyear, Arizona, continues to unfold after an NTSB report pinned driver fatigue as a key factor in the accident that caused the deaths of two bicyclists and injuries to fourteen others in February of last year. The collision occurred on the Cotton Lane Bridge, about 19 miles west of Phoenix, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. The NTSB's investigation revealed that the driver, Pedro Quintana-Lujan, 27, experienced a "diminished state of alertness, likely due to fatigue," which significantly contributed to the crash.
Further exacerbating the severity of the incident, investigators noted that Quintana-Lujan's speed and a lack of response once the crash began played a significant role in the injuries sustained by the bicyclists. Initially, Goodyear police released a charging document, stating that Quintana-Lujan claimed a steering issue led to the crash, but the NTSB found no mechanical issues with his truck, "a sound similar to metal," as Quintana-Lujan described, as stated in AP News.
Following the incident, Quintana-Lujan faced possible charges of manslaughter, aggravated assault, and endangerment, among others. However, he had a small amount of THC in his system, complicating the case as Arizona law does not establish a threshold for THC-induced impairment. Consequently, county prosecutors did not move forward with felony charges, citing a lack of sufficient evidence to prove impairment, as reported by AP News. The case was reverted to the Goodyear Prosecutor’s Office, which filed 11 misdemeanor charges against Quintana-Lujan.
Quintana-Lujan, who smoked marijuana the night before the February 25 crash now faces a jail sentence, if convicted on these misdemeanor charges. A pre-trial conference has been set for October 16 at the Goodyear Municipal Court, officials confirmed.
