Cottonwood Police officers responded to a the scene of a deadly single vehicle collision that took the life of a Clarkdale man.
According to Cottonwood Police on Sunday at around 7:20 p.m., officers responded to a report of a single-vehicle collision on Cornville Road, approximately one-quarter of a mile east of State Route 89A.
The driver and only occupant of the vehicle, 36-year-old Aaron James “AJ” Williams, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation revealed that Mr. Williams was traveling eastbound on Mingus Extension Avenue when he ran the red light at the intersection of State Route 89A. The initial investigation indicates he was traveling at a high rate of speed, upwards of approximately 80 miles per hour, and his vehicle reportedly became airborne when going through the intersection and he lost control.
It was also reported due to the vehicle becoming airborne the driver began to overcorrect and eventually, the vehicle rolled multiple times. The vehicle caught on fire but was extinguished when emergency personnel arrived on the scene.
The Cottonwood Police Department say impairment is believed to be a factor and the investigation is ongoing.