An off-duty Phoenix police officer and Maricopa resident was one of two people killed early Saturday morning in a two-car crash on SR 347 north of Maricopa.
According to authorities, officer Jonathan Stuart, 24, was headed southbound on SR 347 around 7:17 a.m. when his car crossed the median and landed on a Jeep headed northbound.
The driver of the Jeep, Mark J. Ream, 51, of Maricopa, was pronounced dead at the scene. Stuart was transported to an area hospital where he died.
Department of Public Safety Spokesperson Harold Sanders said the initial investigation shows that Stuart’s Pontiac was believed to have been in the right lane of travel, when the driver lost control of the vehicle, which caused the vehicle to go into a broadside, then off the roadway surface into the depressed median.
The Pontiac then vaulted onto the northbound left lane of travel and partially landed on top of the Jeep passenger vehicle, that was travelling northbound in the left travel lane. After the initial collision impact, both vehicles rolled over.
Both vehicle drivers were wearing safety restraints. There were no other occupants in either of the two vehicles.
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