The “suspect driver” in a fatal crash earlier this month is not expected to recover after about two weeks in hospital care, according to a Pinal County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson this morning.
The 18-year-old driver, who remains unnamed, is reported to have an “unrecoverable brain injury,” PCSO spokesperson Lauren Reimer told InMaricopa today. “His status is unlikely to change.”
Reimer could not specify if the driver would die, remain in a vegetative state or something else, but called the injury “severe” and “life-altering.”
Maricopa police and fire crews responded to the crash at West McDavid Road and North Taft Avenue just before 2:30 p.m. Feb. 11.
The car was travelling westbound on McDavid Road before the driver “lost control at the curve, traveled across eastbound lanes and collided with a tree,” Reimer said.
“DUI impairment is suspected, and blood evidence was collected for testing,” Reimer said. “Speed was also a likely factor.”
First responders found the passenger, 13-year-old Rope Justin, dead at the scene.
![City Manager Ben Bitter speaks during a Chamber of Commerce event at Global Water Resources on April 11, 2024. Bitter discussed the current state of economic development in Maricopa, as well as hinting at lowering property tax rates again. [Monica D. Spencer]](https://www.inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/spencer-041124-ben-bitter-chamber-property-taxes-web-218x150.jpg "City gave new manager big low-interest home loan")
