On Saturday, July 8, 2017, just after 4:30 p.m., Tucson Police officers and members from the Tucson Fire Department responded to a report of a serious injury multi-vehicle collision on E. Pima St. and N. Craycroft Rd. Upon arrival, they located four vehicles involved in the collision. One adult male driver and one adult female driver were transported to Banner University Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Another adult male driver had minor injuries and the driver of the fourth vehicle was not injured.
Detectives from the Tucson Police Department Traffic Investigations Unit responded to the scene to continue the investigation. They learned the adult male driver of a silver 2015 Ford Fusion flagged down an officer in traffic near the intersection of N. Alvernon Way and E. Grant Rd. The male, later identified as 26-year-old Nicholas Calhoun, reported someone was following him. The officer requested the male to pull over into the parking lot but he instead made an abrupt U-turn and headed southbound on Alvernon Way. Officers were never able to make contact with Mr. Calhoun. Mr. Calhoun continued southbound on Alvernon Way, exceeding the posted speed limit, and drove in opposing lanes. He was last seen heading eastbound on Pima St. from Alvernon Way. A short time later, the Tucson Police Department started receiving multiple calls to 911 reporting a serious injury collision at E. Pima St. and N. Craycroft Rd. Officers responded to the collision and learned the driver of one of the vehicles had fled the scene on foot and was possibly located inside a business at 5502 E. Pima St. The officers located the male inside the business and he was detained without incident. That driver was identified as Mr. Calhoun.
Detectives learned that Mr. Calhoun had been traveling eastbound on Pima St. in the curb lane. He ran a red light at N. Craycroft Rd., striking a gold 2006 Hyundai headed northbound. The severe impact pushed the Hyundai into an orange 2011 Jeep Wrangler that was also headed northbound on Craycroft Rd. The Jeep had been directly in front of the Hyundai at the time of the collision.
As this was occurring, the Ford struck a green 1998 Honda Civic that was traveling westbound on Pima St.in the median lane, stopped for the red light. The collision pushed the Honda across the street, striking a wall on the south side of E. Pima St., just east of Craycroft.
Mr. Calhoun sustained minor injuries. The driver of the Jeep was not injured. The adult female driver of the Honda is currently listed in critical condition. Sadly, the adult male driver of the Hyundai succumbed to his injuries at the hospital and was pronounced deceased.
He has been identified as 43-year-old Jonathan Breault. Next of kin has been notified.
The detectives were able to determine speed and impairments were factors in this collision and a DUI investigation was conducted on Mr. Calhoun. Mr. Calhoun was arrested and booked into the Pima County Jail on the following charges:
- Second Degree Murder – Class 2 felony
- Aggravated Assault with Serious Physical Injury – Class 3 felony
- Endangerment – Class 6 felony
- Possession of a Dangerous Drug – Class 4 felony
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Class 6 felony
The investigation is ongoing. Additional charges may be added at a later date. Detectives are asking anyone with information about this collision to please call 88-CRIME. You can remain anonymous.