Investigating officers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety suspect alcohol impairment was a likely factor in three fatal collisions that occurred on Saturday. The series of deadly collisions resulted in the deaths of Francisco Perez Cabrera, 43, of Phoenix, Ilse Moreno, 19, of Maricopa and Thomas Verdone, 20, of Scottsdale.
Charges of manslaughter, aggravated assault, and leaving the scene of an injury/fatal accident have been filed by DPS against Jessica L. Robinson, 23, of Gilbert and Brian Brubaker, 30, of Phoenix.
The first collision occurred around 1:30 a.m. on the San tan Freeway stretch of Loop 202 eastbound near Elliot Road. This collision involved a Honda CRV and a full-size Chevy pickup/private street sweeper. The Honda was traveling eastbound on Loop 202 when it came upon the street sweeper traveling at a slower speed. Robinson, the driver of the Honda, swerved to avoid rear-ending the street sweeper, lost control and struck the front left corner of the truck causing it to spin clockwise. Both vehicles rolled over and came to rest off the road on the Elliot exit ramp. The driver of the truck, Perez Cabrera died at the scene. Robinson fled the scene on foot but was later located on Elliot just east of Ellsworth Road and was taken into custody by DPS officers.
The second collision occurred around 7:15 p.m. on the Santan Lop 202. A Dodge Charger was traveling westbound on Loop 202 in the center lane near Gilbert Road when the driver, Brubaker, rear-ended a 1994 Toyota pickup truck causing it to spin out and then roll over, coming to rest on the right side of the road. The Charger struck the median cable barrier and came to a stop. Witnesses said the Charger was traveling above the posted speed limit before the collision. Moreno, the passenger in the Toyota, was partially ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. Brubaker fled the scene but returned shortly and was taken into custody by DPS officers.
The third collision occurred at about 9:27 p.m. the Red Mountain stretch of Loop 202. A Pontiac GTO was traveling eastbound near the Center Street overpass, when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle went to the right, across the travel lanes, off the roadway onto the dirt shoulder where it struck a drainage ditch and a traffic control sign. The vehicle then rolled over and came to rest on the dirt shoulder. Witnesses reported that the Pontiac appeared to be traveling above the posted speed limit and may have been with three to four other vehicles that may have been racing. Verdone, the driver, was declared dead at the scene as a result of the trauma sustained from the collision impact.
DPS wants to speak with anyone who may have witnessed any of these vehicles before the collisions or witnessed the collisions. Witnesses should call DPS at (602) 223-2212.
