Fiery RV crash near home leaves safety concerns
Adrik Vargas
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A recent RV fire that ended in a crash near the Mirada Del Sol neighborhood is raising new concerns about safety along S. Pacific Avenue.
The crash happened near 18th Street, where an RV caught fire before leaving the roadway and crashing into a backyard, coming dangerously close to a home.
According to Rural Metro, crews arrived to find the vehicle fully engulfed in flames and quickly worked to keep the fire from spreading to the house.
Homeowner Miguel Pulido said the situation unfolded quickly and left his family shaken.
“My wife called me and she was frantic. She says it’s on fire, and I just happened to look over and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,'” Pulido said.
While the home did not suffer major structural damage, Pulido said parts of the roof and personal belongings were burned or damaged by the heat.
He says the crash has renewed concerns that neighbors have had for years about the lack of a protective barrier along the roadway above their homes.
“There’s damage, but part of the issue here is that there’s no rail up there,” Pulido said.
Pulido and other residents say they previously pushed for a guardrail in the area, but no action was taken. Now, he hopes this incident will lead to change.
According to the Yuma County Assessor’s Office, the land between S. Pacific Avenue and the neighborhood falls under the Arizona Department of Transportation, while the road itself is maintained by the City of Yuma.
Pulido says without a barrier in place, homes below the roadway remain at risk.
“We have nothing in between. It could have been anybody’s house,” he said.
A petition is now circulating, calling on local officials to install a stronger safety barrier to help prevent similar incidents in the future.
To view or sign the petition, click here.