A late-night crash on a remote stretch of U.S. Route 191 near Pearce turned deadly Thursday when a passenger van carrying 12 people rolled near milepost 36, killing three and injuring several others. Three occupants were thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Four more were airlifted to Tucson hospitals, with two reported in critical condition and two in stable condition. Another five passengers were treated on-site for minor injuries. The highway was shut down overnight and reopened around 5 a.m. Friday.
Crash details
The Arizona Department of Public Safety said the van was headed southbound just after 9 p.m. on April 16 when the wreck occurred. Officials have not yet released the names of those killed or injured and say the cause of the crash is still under investigation. First responders from Cochise County and state troopers worked the scene while medical crews triaged and transported the injured. Crews later cleared the wreckage and reopened the highway early Friday morning, according to ABC15.
Rural roads often deadlier
Remote highways like this section of U.S. 191 see more than their share of deadly crashes in Arizona. The Arizona Department of Transportation's 2024 Crash Facts report tallied 1,117 fatal crashes statewide in 2024, with 381 of those on rural roads - roughly one-third of all deadly collisions. The report flags lane-departure and single-vehicle wrecks as especially common on quieter, two-lane corridors such as U.S. 191. That profile helps explain why nighttime crashes on isolated stretches can quickly turn tragic and make emergency response more complicated, according to ADOT.
Response and investigation
Troopers say the investigation is ongoing, and Cochise County authorities are handling notifications to next of kin. Officials have released few additional details about the victims so far. Investigators will be looking at whether speed, impairment or a mechanical issue may have contributed to the crash. Local and state agencies are expected to release more information as it becomes available. ABC15 reported that traffic was moving again on U.S. 191 by 5 a.m. Friday.
Drivers who regularly travel U.S. 191 between Wilcox and Tombstone are being reminded that sudden emergency closures can and do happen on the rural corridor. Law enforcement is urging motorists to slow down, give responders plenty of space and move over when they see emergency lights. Anyone with information about Thursday night's crash is asked to contact the Arizona Department of Public Safety or Cochise County authorities.
