On Thursday, December 25th, 2014 at 9:45 p.m. the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office received two 9-1-1 calls regarding a single vehicle rollover collision which occurred on West Papago Road just east of Pecan Woods Road outside the city limits of Maricopa. All three occupants from the vehicle were reportedly ejected after the vehicle had rolled.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as William Gay, age 23 of Phoenix, who was treated at the scene for serious injuries and then transported to Chandler Regional Hospital. The two passengers in the vehicle were identified as Josiah Abbott, age 15 of Maricopa, and Morgan Martin, age 14 of Maricopa. Both Abbott and Martin were pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Vehicular Crimes Unit responded and conducted the investigation. It was determined Gay was driving a 2001 Dodge truck northbound on a farm road at a high-rate of speed. As the vehicle went through Papago Road, the driver lost control of the vehicle and struck the curb. The truck rolled one time and all three occupants who were not wearing their seatbelts were ejected.
Sheriff Paul Babeu stated, “The holidays are a time to spend with family and friends. William Gay was speeding down a dirt road when he lost control of his vehicle and as a result his teenage friends were killed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families who lost these two teenagers on Christmas day. Our Vehicular Crimes Detectives will continue to investigate this case which in the end may result in criminal charges being filed against Gay.”