Author: KYMA

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – There are new developments on the crash that resulted in a man’s arrest early Sunday morning.

According to the Yuma Police Department (YPD), the front passenger, a 25-year-old man, is still hospitalized with life-threatening injuries while two other passengers, a 24-year-old woman and a 21-year-old woman, were treated.

The crash happened in the area of S. Avenue B and W. 16th Street at around 2:15 a.m.

YPD says a white Dodge Challenger crashed into a traffic light pole “in the southwest corner of Avenue B and 16th Street.”

As a result, YPD says the driver, a 22-year-old man, the front passenger and two rear passengers were taken to Onvida Health, but the front passenger was flown to a Phoenix area hospital after receiving life-threatening injuries.

The driver, according to YPD, was treated and released from the hospital, but was then arrested and booked into the Yuma County Detention Center on multiple charges, including driving under the influence, reckless driving and endangerment.

While speed and alcohol appear to be factors in the crash, the investigation is ongoing.

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Adrik Vargas

UPDATE: Representative-Elect Adelita Grijalva joined local leaders at Gateway Park Monday to talk about the future of the Colorado River.

The group highlighted how drought and climate change are impacting water, agriculture, and communities that depend on the river.

Rep.-Elect Grijalva stressed the need to protect Arizona’s water supply and called on the federal government to maintain strong climate protections.

“If you look at how it’s affecting our monsoons, they’re almost nonexistent. I mean, before there used to be months where, like, every day was rainy. Now it’s like a day, maybe two. And that is definitely impacting our water table and impacting our groundwater,” Grijalva expressed.

Grijalva said the overuse of the Colorado River is hurting the Desert Southwest, and says she plans to work closely with local leaders and tribal nations to find solutions.

Earlier in the day, Grijalva visited the Somerton Senior Center to talk about how the government shutdown and the delay of her swearing in is impacting families across the Desert Southwest.

To learn more about that story, click here.

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – Representative-Elect Adelita Grijalva will be making her rounds in Yuma County Monday.

Grijalva will be visiting the Desert Valley Senior Center in Somerton at 10:30 a.m. to discuss priorities and concerns of local residents, including how the ongoing delay on her swearing-in has affected services for families and seniors.

Griljalva will then be hosting a news conference at 1:00 p.m. at Gateway Park. 

The conference aims to draw attention to the effects of climate change have on our communities, particularly along the Colorado River, where dipping levels pose a threat to the river’s health and the welfare of the communities that depend on it.

Adrik Vargas have more on her visit later this evening. 

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma residents were able to get into the festive fall season ahead of Halloween Sunday.

A free pumpkin patch was held at the parking lot of Five Below at the Yuma Palms Regional Center from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Locals were able to take their pick from a cluster of close to 1,000 pumpkins while enjoying refreshments from vendors.

Yuma Fire and Police Departments were also in attendance for the event that is a way for Yuma Palms to show appreciation to citizens.

“Giving back to the community…we’re all neighbors here in Yuma, and they give to us by shopping at our tenants’ stores, and we’re giving back by doing community events like this,” said Eric Bowlin, the event coordinator.

Yuma Palms also had close to 7,000 novelty toys and pieces of candy to give away at the event.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals attended the 13th Annual Bridget’s Gift Western Dance and BBQ this weekend.

The event took place at the Cocopah Casino event lawn at 5:00 p.m., and is to raise money to help breast cancer patients in our community.

They had many local performers take the stage before country music artist Chris Young, who was headlining the event, performed at 9:00 p.m.

During the concert, Young announced he was going to donate $25,000 to Bridget’s Gift to support breast cancer awareness.

Wendy McKay, one of the organizers, talked about the process to make this event happen.

“This is a labor of love. It’s a lot of work, a lot of volunteers come together to make this event happen, planning starts, shortly after start looking at new artist, and just start figuring out what we’re going to do next year,” McKay shared.

The event lasted until 11:00 p.m.

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Dillon Fuhrman

UPDATE (5:38 PM): According to Kelley Hammond, the organizer of the fundraiser, they have raised roughly $700.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals across Yuma County got the chance to get their cars washed for a good cause.

A car wash fundraiser took place at the Torch Lite Lodge parking lot at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, and it is to help the family of Jonathan and Matthew Vargas, who were killed in a murder-suicide in Winterhaven earlier this month.

The fundraiser also sheds light on the need for better mental health resources.

“A lot of families come into issues with the fact that once their children aged 18 and up, there’s nothing we can do as far as getting them help,” said Kelley Hammond, the organizer of the fundraiser. “The laws need to be changed so that as family or even close friends, we need to be able to do something to help our friends and our family get the mental help that they need.”

According to Hammond, the minimum fundraising goal is between $600 and $700.

The car wash fundraiser will go until at least 5:30 p.m., and you can also donate to the Vargas family HERE.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals flooded the Colorado River State Historic Park Saturday night to attend the Dia de los Muertos event.

The event took place at the park at 5:00 p.m., and had live entertainment which included music and dancing. There was also food and drink vendors and plenty of activities for people of all ages.

For some newcomers, the celebration came with a lot of anticipation.

“It’s the first time I’ve been here, so I’m excited to see what we’re gonna get into tonight,” said Adriana Hernandez, a vendor.

“I’m excited to also see what’s going to happen and see all the little faces coming by,” said Shilo Noriega, another vendor.

The event lasted until 10:00 p.m.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) says they arrested a man in connection to a crash early Sunday morning.

According to a press release, the crash happened in the area of S. Avenue B and W. 16th Street at around 2:15 a.m.

YPD says a white Dodge Challenger crashed into a traffic light pole “in the southwest corner of Avenue B and 16th Street.”

As a result, YPD says the driver, a 22-year-old man, the front passenger, a 25-year-old man, and two rear passengers, a 24-year-old woman and a 21-year-old woman, were taken to Onvida Health, but the front passenger was flown to a Phoenix area hospital after receiving life-threatening injuries.

The driver, according to YPD, was treated and released from the hospital, but was then arrested and booked into the Yuma County Detention Center on multiple charges, including driving under the influence, reckless driving and endangerment.

While speed and alcohol appear to be factors in the crash, the investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding the case, call YPD at (928) 783-4421 or 78-CRIME at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Local bikers revved up their engines Saturday to cruise around Yuma for a great cause.

Onvida Health and the Yuma Harley Owner’s Group (HOG) teamed up for the 16th Annual Breast Cancer Motorcycle Fun Run.

The event’s proceeds benefit the Yuma Cancer Resource Center, with drivers hitting different pit stops around the city.

Through proceeds, the Resource Center offers cancer patients services such as supplemental nutrition, bras and prosthetics, gas certificates, and head coverings.

“The Harley Owner’s Group saved us because we were struggling for the first three years…Nobody knew what we were. It was before the Cancer Center was even built,” said Louise Jacobsen, founder of the Cancer Resource Center.

“I walked through the doors 16 years ago and asked, ‘Hey, you want some money?’ And they’re like ‘Yeah.’ So we’ve been working with them for 16 years, and we’ll continue to do what we do to help out the community,” said Reynold Jerome, Director of the Yuma HOG Chapter.

The event finished at Bobby’s Territorial Harley-Davidson for lunch and raffles.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hosted the National Take Back Initiative this weekend.

The event took place at YPD headquarters, located at 1500 S. First Avenue, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday.

YPD says the event offers the public to dispose of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs to help prevent pill abuse and theft.

“It keeps the drugs off the streets. You know, if you keep them in your medicine cabinet and say you’re winter visitor and then you leave for the summer and somebody breaks into your residence, that puts the drugs on the streets. So we don’t want you to hold on to them. They’re expired or anything like that. Just turn them in. We’ll get rid of them the right way.”

Sgt. Lori Franklin, Public Information Officer, YPD

The Marine Corps volunteers also participated in the event.

According to Sgt. Franklin, nine boxes were filled, and if anyone missed Saturday’s event, she said they will host another drug take back in April of next year.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Government leaders across the Desert Southwest took a stroll with their constituents Saturday morning.

The Ninth Annual Mayors’ International Bike Ride took place near the Yuma Civic Center at 8:00 a.m., with on-site registration taking place at 7:00 a.m.

The 25-mile ride started at the Civic Center before making stops at Cocopah Korner, Somerton City Hall, Friendship Park in Gadsden and Montezuma Park in San Luis before wrapping up with a celebration at Benito Juarez Park near San Luis Rio Colorado’s City Hall.

Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls and San Luis Mayor Nieves Riedel shared the importance of the bike ride.

“I always wanna stress, it’s really more about the people. It’s an ability for the mayors to ride with everybody,” Mayor Nicholls explained.

“We have a lot of respect…all the mayors in the region…a lot of respect for each other, and sometimes we don’t agree, but we can agree to disagree and respect each other,” Mayor Riedel added.

The event was free to participate, with all ages being welcome.

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