By Richard Smith
Mail |
X: @rsmithYWV

A 16-year-old former student at Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale died in a one-car crash Sunday afternoon on Interstate 17 near Cordes Junction.

His passenger, a 17-year-old current Mountain Ridge student, survived the accident but remains in critical condition Monday.

The names of the teenagers have not been released to the public.

According to the report released Monday by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the one vehicle collision occurred southbound on I-17 at milepost 259 at 1:15 p.m. Sunday.

A passenger vehicle was southbound in the No. 2 lane when it drifted off right onto the depressed shoulder. The driver steered left, and the vehicle began to rotate counterclockwise. The passenger side of the vehicle struck the guardrail attenuator, then the guardrail traveled through the passenger compartment of the vehicle causing severe injuries to both occupants, the report stated.

The driver, a 16-year-old male, was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger was flown to a Phoenix hospital.

Mountain Ridge High School Principal David Vines sent the following letter to the Glendale school’s community Monday afternoon:

“I am writing to update you about a serious situation that took place on Sunday afternoon. A current Ridge student and a former Ridge student were involved in a car accident while driving home from Flagstaff. We are deeply saddened to share that the former student passed away in the accident, and the current student is currently hospitalized in critical condition.

“We are unable to release the names of the students involved at this time, but please join me in sending our thoughts and prayers to the families and friends of everyone affected.

“We expect this will be very difficult news to our school community, and we will provide all resources needed to our students and staff. There were extra counselors on campus today and will be here for as long as needed. Please do not hesitate to contact our Counseling Office at 623-376-3016 if you or your student require assistance or to be connected to any resources.

“Please encourage your child to express his or her feelings. Here is a link to some helpful guidelines for parents of grieving children.

“Our school community is deeply saddened by this loss, but we feel fortunate to belong to the Mountain Ridge family, where we can help each other through difficult times. We will provide further information should the families ask us to share.

“I thank you for your support, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.”

Richard Smith
Senior News Editor | Glendale & West Valley Preps

rsmith@iniusa.org

Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.

An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.

For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.

As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.