Deadly crash at Yuma intersection draws renewed concerns over visibility
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A deadly crash in the Foothills is drawing new attention to a dangerous intersection.
The crash happened at Frontage Road and Avenue 10E.
The Yuma Police Department (YPD) said a 55-year-old man was trying to turn left from Avenue 10E onto Frontage Road when he hit another vehicle.
The driver of the other vehicle, 43-year-old Jose “Bimbo” Fernandez Chavez, died after being taken to Onvida Health.
Police said overgrown brush and trees near the intersection have been a concern for drivers for years.
News 11 reached out to Westwind RV Park about those concerns, but officials declined to comment.
“Within the last five to six years, this is our second fatal accident at that intersection. We do get a lot of complaints about the brush and trees from the RV park right there. We are working with the RV park to try to fix that,” said Officer Hayato Johnson, Public Information Officer for YPD.
According to the LexisNexis Crime Map, at least 19 citations have been issued at or near the intersection since 2020.
Alicia Garcia, who works at Taco Fish near the intersection, said she has seen too many tragedies in the area.
“This street is highly trafficked, so the people driving onto Frontage Road get impatient. People don’t slow down to let you turn, so people just go for it,” Garcia said.
Garcia believes a traffic light could help improve safety.
“An intersection with traffic lights would be ideal. That would be respected,” she said.
YPD said local residents can help by reporting their concerns through the city’s ClickFix app.
“If there are more complaints, continue to send those requests in for repairs via the ClickFix app,” Officer Johnson said.
Meanwhile, Fernandez Chavez’s family said he was the sole provider for his family. They have started a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses and other costs.
His son wrote on the fundraiser, “My father always filled everyone’s hearts with joy and happiness. He was also the pillar of our family.”
A link to the GoFundMe can be found here.
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