Two of three killed in crash ID’d as San Tan Valley teens

Two of the three teens who died in a San Tan Valley crash were identified as Amonte Deshawn Jones, 18, from Mesa, and Chase James Bulmahn, 18, from San Tan Valley, according to the Pinal County Sheriff ’s Office.

The name of the third victim, who was 16 years old, will not be released because he was a juvenile, Sheriff ’s Office officials said Thursday.

Around 11 a.m. Tuesday, a sheriff’s deputy spotted a silver car with an expired temporary registration that was speeding near Schnepf Road and Hash Knife Draw in San Tan Valley, according to Navideh Forghani, a Pinal County Sheriff ’s Office spokeswoman.

Four teenage boys were cruising in the silver car, carrying several assault weapons, a “large amount” of cash, marijuana and other unspecified drugs, according to sheriff ’s officials.

Juan Sanchez, 17, was driving the vehicle as a deputy was nearing them. The vehicle went out of control and crashed into a cement barricade.

Jones, Bulmahn and the 16-year-old were not wearing seatbelts and were pronounced dead at the scene. Sanchez was wearing his seatbelt and was taken to a hospital for minor injuries, sheriff ’s officials said.

The driver told deputies he was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the crash, said Forghani.

Sanchez is now facing three counts of first-degree murder and felony flight and is being held at the Pinal County Adult Detention Center.

Sabrina Banks, mother of Amonte Jones, told The Arizona Republic more about her son in a statement :

“My son was Amonte Jones; he was well-loved by his family and friends. He has (a) beautiful 2-month old daughter ... he was a waitstaff at Fellowship Square ... He was 18 ... died the day after my birthday ... He had a smile that would light up (a) room . ... ”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for the family of Amonte Jones. A second GoFundMe page was created to help Amonte’s girlfriend, Laiah, and their daughter.