On July 25, 2009, at approximately 9:15 AM, Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a reported traffic accident on Salt Mine Road about 4 miles south of Highway 260. Upon arrival, deputies discovered two vehicles heavily damaged from an apparent head on collision. The vehicles involved were a gold Buick Century sedan and a white Dodge Ram truck. The driver of the Buick, identified as 51-year-old Camp Verde resident Denise Reed, had been transported by air to the Flagstaff Medical Center where she was pronounced deceased. The driver of the Dodge truck, a 60-year-old man and resident of Camp Verde, sustained non-life threatening injuries and was treated at the scene.
A preliminary investigation revealed the Buick was traveling the wrong direction in the northbound lane of Salt Mine Road occupied by a northbound Dodge truck. When the driver of the Dodge truck saw the Buick approaching, he moved to the roadway shoulder hoping to avoid a collision. As he entered the roadway shoulder, the Buick continued towards him and eventually collided with the front of his vehicle. Both vehicles sustained front end damage, with the Buick suffering the most extensive damage.
Deputies have determined that Reed was not wearing her seat belt at the time of the collision. The investigation remains ongoing as to the speed of the vehicles at the time of impact and if Reed suffered from any medical conditions or could have been under the influence of narcotics or alcohol.
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