Two killed in head-on collision at Monument Valley on March 25
Two peopole were killed on March 25 when the Ford Ranger they were in was struck by an oncoming Chevrolet Silverado. The Silverado driver is charged with four felony counts.
The crash occurred at around 8:30 p.m. on State Road 163, nine miles north of the Arizona border between Douglas Mesa turnoff and Forrest Gump Hill.
The northbound Silverado crossed the centerline and struck the southbound Ranger in the front driver’s side. The Ranger went off the road and rolled.
The occupants of the Ranger died at the scene, including the 45-year-old female driver and a 53-year-old male passenger. Two other adult occupants of the Ranger were transported to an area hospital in serious condition.
The driver of the Silverado, 33-year-old Daniel William Walker, sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital but later returned to the scene.
Troopers conducted a DUI investigation and arrested Walker for impaired driving. He was later booked into the San Juan County Jail.
Charges include two counts of felony criminal negligence while operating a vehicle resulting in death, two counts of felony negligently operating a vehicle resulting in injury, and driving under the influence.
The Navajo Nation requested an outside agency investigate the incident. The Utah Highway Patrol, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is conducting this investigation.
SR-163 was closed in both directions for approximately one hour during the initial stages of the investigation. After that, crews opened the lanes with intermittent closures until the scene was clear.
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