In Golden Valley, a sad two-vehicle crash early Friday morning claimed the life of a local woman and led to the arrest of two men, one of whom is charged with murder.
According to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, at around 6:12 a.m., deputies arrived at the scene of the collision at the intersection of W. Shinarump Dr. and S. Apache Rd.
Marian Merk, 61, of Golden Valley, was discovered dead at the site after being pinned in her car.
Investigators found that Merk’s Hyundai SUV was struck head-on by a Chevrolet pickup truck that was moving east at a high speed when it crossed the centerline. The people inside the truck ran into the desert on foot.
After the Arizona Department of Public Safety conducted a thorough search, Brandon James Tosh, 30, of Kingman, was apprehended after being discovered hiding beneath a bush.
Tosh, the truck’s passenger, was taken into custody on unresolved charges of assault and disorderly behaviour.
The MCSO claims that after giving law enforcement misleading information, he was then charged with obstructing prosecution.
After contacting a homeowner for water and confessing to his role in the collision, the driver, Maximiliano Chavez Jr., 29, of Kingman, was taken into custody the next morning.
After witnessing Merk’s condition, Chavez admitted to driving more than 70 miles per hour and escaping the scene.
Following a medical clearance for minor injuries, he was placed into the Mohave County Adult Detention Facility and charged with second-degree murder, a class 1 felony.
Investigators are still working to piece together what happened before the deadly crash.
