Peoria man sentenced in deadly Apache Junction collision
Victims were returning home from church
Adam Parker of Peoria has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a deadly DUI wrong-way crash along US 60 in Apache Junction.
(Pinal County Sheriff's Office)
A 38-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a deadly DUI wrong-way crash along US 60 in Apache Junction that killed a woman and injured her daughter, authorities said Friday.
Pinal County Superior Court Judge Steven Fuller issued a flat time sentence to Adam Parker, meaning he will have to serve the entire 20 years.
"This defendant's senseless decision to drive drunk took the life of an innocent mother," Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer said.
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PINAL COUNTY ATTORNEY
Peoria man sentenced in deadly Apache Junction collision
Victims were returning home from church
(Pinal County Sheriff's Office)
Adam Parker of Peoria has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a deadly DUI wrong-way crash along US 60 in Apache Junction.
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A 38-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a deadly DUI wrong-way crash along US 60 in Apache Junction that killed a woman and injured her daughter, authorities said Friday.
Pinal County Superior Court Judge Steven Fuller issued a flat time sentence to Adam Parker, meaning he will have to serve the entire 20 years.
"This defendant's senseless decision to drive drunk took the life of an innocent mother," Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer said.
"There is no length of time served that can undo this tragedy, but we hope today marks at least some small sense of closure for the victim's family and that they can begin to heal."
Parker pleaded guilty in July to second-degree murder and aggravated assault, according to a release from the Pinal County Attorney’s Office. Parker made his plea to the court, meaning there was no plea agreement in place.
The collision occurred about 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 20. Authorities received 911 calls reporting the driver of a truck was “driving aggressively, moving in and out of traffic, and then heading the wrong direction, driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of the US 60 near Mountain View Road,” the release stated.
Shortly after, the truck collided with an SUV heading in the correct direction.
Parker was identified as the driver of the F150. The driver of the SUV, Elizabeth McAloon, 28, died from her injuries. McAloon's 7-year-old daughter was also injured in the crash. The victims were returning home from church when the crash occurred.
According to the probable cause statement, a blood draw showed Parker's BAC in excess of 0.23.
At sentencing Friday, McAloon’s family addressed the court and remembered the mother’s “infectious laughter and devout faith.
“Her mom described Elizabeth as kind and caring and that she, ‘left an impression on everyone she met.’ Another family member said of Parker’s actions, ‘this was a choice, it was not a mistake nor an accident,’” the PCSO release stated.
This case was prosecuted by Deputy County Attorney Stephen Bridger.
“This is one of the worst DUI cases I've ever seen, and my thoughts are with Elizabeth's family as they move forward from this chapter," he said.
We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.
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