On Friday, February 21, 2020, at approximately 10:00PM, a one-vehicle, rollover collision with three fatalities occurred on US 70, at milepost 327, west of Pima. An Eastern Arizona College (EAC) passenger van was traveling eastbound when the vehicle crossed into the westbound lane, left the roadway and subsequently rolled. The van, being operated buy an adult male, was carrying seven local high school students and one EAC student.

Three of the high school students were ejected and all succumbed to their injuries. The driver and five other students received non-life threating injuries. The cause of the collision is still being investigated. At this time, impairment does not appear to be a factor in the collision.        

EAC has been working diligently with AZDPS investigators and questions related to the students and their school travel should be directed to Mr. Kris McBride, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Eastern Arizona College, Kris.mcbride@eac.edu.

Russell Nelson, 77 years of age, white male, 6’0″, 220 lbs, Grey hair, blue eyes, unknown clothing, last seen on foot in the are of the 2300 block of North 57th Place in Scottsdale, AZ. Mr. Nelson suffers from Dementia.