Victim in fiery SR 347 crash identified

The victim in Thursday’s fiery fatal crash on State Route 347 has been identified.

Buford Delaughter, 56, of Maricopa was the driver of the Toyota Camry according to Arizona Department of Public Safety Media Relations Specialist Bart Graves.

Delaughter was involved in the fatal crash that halted northbound traffic for hours Thursday night near Casa Blanca Road. Southbound traffic also was delayed for up to two hours.

According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, Delaughter’s vehicle apparently drove into oncoming traffic, hit another vehicle and ignited into flames, fatally injuring him. Delaughter was heading southbound on SR 347 at the time of the accident and crossed the median into northbound traffic where he collided with a vehicle with four occupants. None of the occupants of that vehicle sustained life threatening injuries.

The incident required fire company support, along with paramedics, leading officials to shut down traffic heading north out of town. SR 347 was closed for five hours while DPS investigated the accident.