Photo: Example of a Side-by-Side ATV
9-Year-old Girl Injured in Quad Accident
On Thursday afternoon YCSO received a text to 911 call stating a side-by-side quad rolled and a 9-year-old female was seriously injured. Three deputies responded, but the closest unit was 1 hour 45 min away. While en route, the deputies requested assistance from closer agencies with Peoria Fire agreeing to respond.
When YCSO arrived, they turned onto Castle Hot Springs Road and met with fire department who were already on scene. The child’s father explained that he was coming around a corner and swerved to miss a rock in the road and then hit an embankment, causing the vehicle to roll onto the side, crushing the little girl’s arm, causing a compound fracture. The father was able to roll the vehicle off his daughter and asked a passerby to text 911. The dad applied a tourniquet and then drove his daughter and son in his truck to meet with the fire personnel.
The little girl was driven by ambulance to Phoenix Children’s Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Her brother was complaining of abdomen pain was taken to Phoenix Children’s Hospital as a precaution.
Man Shot by Possible Stray Bullet
On Saturday March 16 at approximately 10 pm, Banner University Hospital reported that a man had been admitted for a gunshot wound to his abdomen. The hospital reported the man was off Rincon Road in Wickenburg with his wife and son when he was struck with a bullet. They advised there were shooters in the area, and it was believed that he was accidentally struck by a stray bullet. It was reported that the shooting occurred around 7pm, when the victim then drove himself to Wickenburg Hospital and was eventually transported to Banner University.
The victim’s wife and son were interviewed and reported that the victim and sone were riding quads in the area and stopped to use the restroom. The victim reported hearing a volley of shots and then felt the impact. Local ranchers assisted in getting the victim out of the area and to a hospital. YCSO is still investigating the incident and the victim is out of surgery and in stable condition.
YCSO Deputy Almost Hit by Suspected Drunk Driver
Also, on Saturday evening just before midnight, a YCSO deputy on his way home east on Highway 89A was nearly struck by a wrong way driver. The deputy swerved to avoid the vehicle and was able to get turned around to follow the offender, Allen Tury, 60 of Prescott Valley, westbound on the highway. The Deputy observed the offender’s vehicle self-correct and eventually was able to stop him on Glassford Hill Road where the driver was placed the driver under arrest for DUI.
Man Crushed by Tractor in Freak Accident
On Sunday March 17, YCSO deputies were called to the scene of a deceased male in Rimrock who had been run over by a tractor. The reporting person stated that he and his friend found their neighbor deceased after not being able to reach him by phone or text for some time.
The deputies and the neighbors found the tractor pinned up against a chain link fence on the side of the residence, with the victim trapped partially under the rear tire having suffered extensive injuries consistent with the apparent incident. Tools were located on the ground and under the body indicating he was likely working on the tractor from the ground when the incident occurred.
Cottonwood Woman Gets Prison Time in Major YCSO Fraud Case
A Cottonwood resident was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to nine charges connected to a large fraud case investigated by the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO).
Under a plea deal, 42-year-old Elaine Vowell admitted to nine felonies including fraud, theft, forgery, and I.D. theft – all with a prior felony conviction on her record. Yavapai County Superior Court Judge John Erickson handed down concurrent prison terms ranging from 2.5 to 10 years.
According to the YCSO investigation, Vowell worked for Noah’s Ark Roofing in Cottonwood when she used a company credit card for several unauthorized charges and rerouted several checks from roofing customers to her own personal account. Investigators said she took more than $30,000 from the firm over several months beginning in September 2021.
