Following a series of fatal accidents on State Route 260 near Payson, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) has announced plans to increase trooper presence along the highway. The move comes in response to growing concerns about safety on this high-risk stretch of road. "Our goal is to reduce the number of serious injury and fatal collisions as a result of driver error," DPS representative Bart Graves explained in an interview with Arizona’s Family.
In the past two weeks, SR 260 has been the location of four fatal crashes—an "unusually high" number, according to DPS. Among these was a recent head-on collision involving a suspected impaired driver, which resulted in one death and three injuries. The series of incidents has raised concern within the local community, with Payson Mayor Stephen Otto stating, "We're killing people up here. Regularly," as reported by ABC15.
Some residents have linked the recent accidents to impatient driving behavior, particularly during busy weekends when traffic increases in the area. "We have a lot of RVs, and campers. People get tired of them going slower. It doesn't mean they're not going the speed limit, and they go around them to get where they're going faster," local resident Lance Marble told ABC15. Additionally, the roadway’s current design—lacking shoulders and pull-outs—may contribute to the issue by limiting space for emergency stops or evasive actions.
The recent incidents on this popular route for summer travelers have highlighted the necessity of heightened vigilance. Mayor Otto urged visiting drivers to "Keep your cell phones in the pockets, don't talk and drive, the scenery is spectacular to look at, but it's deadly if you're not aware of your surroundings," as noted by ABC15. In addition to increased patrols, a construction project intended to widen SR 260 is on the agenda, though work is not scheduled to commence until Spring of 2026.
The Department of Public Safety has increased patrols on SR 260 with the goal of reducing accidents this summer. As recent incidents have affected the community, DPS efforts and statements from Payson’s mayor stress the importance of driver caution and awareness on Northern Arizona’s roadways.
