According to authorities, the accident occurred around 2:30 p.m. on June 3, 2026, at Stone Avenue and Drachman Street.
Tucson, AZ – 34-year-old Crystal Marie Cruz died, and another person was severely injured in a two-vehicle collision that happened Wednesday afternoon at an intersection in Tucson.
According to authorities, the accident occurred around 2:30 p.m. on June 3, 2026, at Stone Avenue and Drachman Street.
Operations Division West officers and Tucson firefighters responded to the scene shortly after receiving reports of the crash.
Based on a preliminary investigation, a 2015 Toyota Highlander was traveling south on Stone Avenue when the 41-year-old female driver prepared to make a left turn onto Drachman Street. The traffic signal for southbound traffic was yellow when the driver entered the intersection, and was hit by a 1995 Dodge Neon heading northbound on Stone.
The impact caused the front-seat passenger in the Dodge to be ejected from the car.
Cruz, who was driving the Dodge, and the passenger were rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Cruz was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
The woman driving the Toyota was not injured, but a passenger in the car was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Authorities said Cruz and her passenger were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash, which contributed to their severe injuries.
Witnesses also told investigators that prior to the crash, Cruz was traveling well above the posted speed limit of 30 mph, swerving through traffic, and moving between the median and curb lanes. Investigators will depend on medical records to establish if she was driving while intoxicated.
The Toyota driver was cleared of DUI.
According to police, Cruz’s driving behavior prior to the collision, and the Toyota’s driver’s failure to yield to oncoming traffic while making a left turn contributed to the crash.
An investigation into the accident is ongoing.