A preliminary investigation reveals that a black and blue 1990 GMC Sierra truck was traveling on the highway when it lost control and overturned onto its roof. The driver is believed to have been traveling at a high rate of speed just prior to the accident
Navajo Nation, AZ – One person was killed and two others were hurt in a single-vehicle accident on the Navajo Nation on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Navajo Police Department’s Chinle District
At about 12:06 p.m. January 6, authorities responded to reports of a crash on Route 12 near milepost 83.5.
A preliminary investigation reveals that a black and blue 1990 GMC Sierra truck was traveling on the highway when it lost control and overturned onto its roof. The driver is believed to have been traveling at a high rate of speed just prior to the accident.
Navajo police responded to the scene and located three parties involved in the crash. The three GMC occupants reportedly did not have their seatbelts on at the time of the accident.
One occupant was pronounced deceased at the scene while the other two parties were transported to a hospital with critical injuries.
As of Wednesday evening, the identities of the involved people were yet to be released.
At the scene just outside of the vehicle, police saw a container of an alcoholic beverage. Navajo police reported that impairement and speed were being investigated as possible factors in the crash.
The crash led to the closure of SR 12 for over seven hours as authorities investigated and cleared the scene. The cause of the deadly crash remains under investigation.
Arizona has seen a modest reduction in overall traffic accidents over the last two years, yet roadway fatalities continue to pose a serious public safety concern. In 2023, the state recorded 122,247 motor vehicle crashes, resulting in 1,307 deaths. The following year showed a slight improvement, with total crashes declining to 121,107 and fatalities dropping to 1,228—marking a 6.1% decrease in traffic-related deaths year over year.
While this downward shift is encouraging, the figures for fatal and severe injury crashes remain close to record highs, underscoring persistent challenges in traffic safety across Arizona. Excessive speed, impaired driving, and the failure to use seat belts and other safety restraints are consistently identified as leading causes of deadly and life-altering collisions. Although statewide safety initiatives, emergency response improvements, and public awareness campaigns are actively working to reduce these dangers, Arizona’s highways and city streets continue to experience a substantial number of serious accidents each year.
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a car accident, you can learn more about your options by visiting our car accident ttorney page.