SAN TAN VALLEY, Ariz. -- The Pinal County Sheriff's Office is investigating a deadly crash that killed 3 young men.
PCSO tells us just before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, a deputy tried to do a traffic stop on a silver car because of an expired temporary car registration and excessive speeding. This happened near Schnepf Road and Hash Knife Draw in San Tan Valley.
Police say the driver, a 17-year-old, did not pull over but took off at a high speed. PCSO says the deputy began a brief pursuit, but the car was going very fast, and before the deputy could catch up to the car, the driver lost control of the car. The teenager crashed into a cement barricade along Schnepf Road, between Ocotillo Road and Combs.
PCSO says a 16-year-old and two 18-year-old men were passengers killed in the crash. None of them were wearing seat belts and died at the scene.
The name of the 16-year-old driver is not being released because he is a juvenile. The other victims were Amonte Deshawn Jones of Mesa and Chase James Bulmahn of San Tan Valley.
The 17-year-old driver was wearing a seat belt, and was taken to the hospital for minor injuries.
PCSO says during the investigation, deputies found marijuana and other dangerous drugs in the car. They also found a large amount of cash, and several weapons including:
- AR15
- An MP40 style sub machine gun
- Shotgun
- 2 handguns
Officials say the driver admitted to deputies, that he was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the crash. He is facing several charges, including 3 counts of first-degree murder under the "felony murder" rule and felony flight.
