Woman killed in crash with suspected DUI driver ID’d
The Yuma Police Department has released the name of the 66-year-old female who was killed Friday night when a suspected drunk driver crashed into the back of the car she was riding in as a passenger.
The woman has been identified as Maria Patch, whose address was in Yuma. Her 70-yearold husband was transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
According to YPD, at approximately 10:39 p.m. officers responded to a motor vehicle collision in the 4500 block of West 16th Street.
The initial investigation revealed a gray 2006 Nissan Sentra, occupied by a 70-year-old male and a 66-year-old female, was driving westbound on 16th Street when it was rear-ended by a 2016 Freightliner 16M Rollback tow truck, being driven by 28-year-old Christopher Peirce.
Patch was pronounced deceased at the scene and Peirce fled following the crash, but was later located by police and arrested.
Alcohol is suspected to be a factor in this case. YPD said Pierce was found to have a blood alcohol content greater than 0.20, which is more than twice the legal limit of less than 0.08.
Peirce is currently in custody at the Yuma County jail on $50,000 bond, where he is being held on charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, leaving the scene of an accident with a death or injury, reckless driving and a misdemeanor count of extreme DUI.
He is scheduled to be arraigned in Yuma Justice Court today where he will be informed if any charges are to be filed against him.
The case is still under investigation. It is not yet known if Peirce was working at the time of the crash.
YPD encourages anyone with any information about this case to call their department at (928) 373-4700 or 78-Crime at (928) 7827463 to remain anonymous.