ST. GEORGE — Police say distracted driving caused a one-vehicle rollover on Highway 389 in Colorado City, Arizona, Tuesday at 12:12 p.m.
Colorado City-Hilldale City Police Department Lt. Mark Gower said a 24-year-old male driver of a 1990 Chevy pickup truck was traveling west when he momentarily glanced at his phone, drove to the right side of the road and overcorrected.
Gower said the driver crossed the oncoming lane of traffic and rolled a full turn and a quarter. The vehicle was smoking, and the driver sustained minor injuries but was not transported to a hospital.
“The driver is lucky he didn’t hit anybody head-on when he crossed the travel lanes,” Gower said. “And luckily, he had been wearing a seat belt, and that helped him from being ejected. But it could have been so tragic.”
Gower advises drivers not to look at their phones or change radio stations. He said anything that turns one’s attention away from the road for “even just a split-second” can ultimately end up in a severe accident.
“People need to keep their eyes on the road,” said Gower, adding they recently re-branded from a marshal to a police department. The marshal name for cities has been in use in Arizona since 1880. The title was held since the reputation of Wyatt Earp, the Earp brothers and the shootout at the OK Corral.
In December 2022, the Arizona state government decided to clear the possible confusion between federal U.S. Marshals and Arizona Marshals. The title of “marshal” is being dropped by many agencies, though some still hold onto the historical namesake. According to the Tombstone, Arizona, Marshal’s Office, they are not dropping the marshal title.
Gower said his office works with Utah and Arizona since their towns straddle the border. He added that both states would certify officers as Peace Officer Standard Training for the Colorado City-Hilldale City Police Department.
This report is based on statements from police, emergency personnel or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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