11/6/2009 12:20:00 PM UPDATE: Mayer man dies in head-on car crash
The Daily Courier
UPDATE: Friday, 11:45 a.m.:
Raymond Cook, 61, of Mayer, sustained fatal injuries in Thursday night's two-car collision about six miles north of Mayer, the Department of Public Safety confirmed Friday morning.
The collision's first reports came in around 6 p.m. on Thursday on State Route 69 near mile post 276.
According to DPS, Cook was driving his 1998 Dodge Durango northbound in the southbound lanes and collided head-on with a 2000 Chevrolet pickup driven by Walter Neitzel, 50, of Phoenix, who was admitted to a Phoenix-area hospital.
There were no passengers in either vehicle.
The collision resulted in northbound lanes being closed for about three hours and southbound lanes were closed for about four and a half hours. The exact cause of the collision remains under investigation.
Impairment does not appear to be a factor at this time.
UPDATE, Thursday, 9:20 p.m.:
The Department of Public Safety confirmed one fatality Thursday evening in a multiple-car collision near mile post 276 between Dewey-Humboldt and Mayer.
DPS first reported that southbound traffic on State Route 69 was being rerouted onto State Route 169 toward I-17 at 7:14 p.m. Thursday night.
Officials reported at least three collisions but details on the cause or exact number of injuries remains unclear. "It was a chaotic scene," said a dispatcher in DPS's Flagstaff center.
Authorities are not releasing any information about the victim. Two other people reportedly were air evaced from the scene, though the extent of their injuries also is unknown.
Southbound 69 will be closed until at least midnight as the investigation continues, DPS reported.
INITIAL REPORT:
At 7:14 p.m., the Department of Public Safety reported that State Route 69 is closed at mile post 277.5 in Humboldt due to a serious injury collision.
Southbound traffic on SR69 is being rerouted onto State Route 169 toward I-17. Northbound traffic on 69 is stopped at this time. It may be open by Thursday evening to clear traffic in the immediate area of the collision scene, according to DPS.
Travelers needing to head north on SR69 are urged to take I-17 north to the SR169 exit and back over to SR69 to go north.
The closure is expected to be in effect at least four hours.
Check back to dCourier.com for details on this developing story.
Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Article comment by:
Jeff H.
Get well soon Tim!
Posted: Monday, November 09, 2009
Article comment by:
Mike A.
Please pray for Tim's recovery. I have been privileged to have Tim as a friend for many years. My family and I hold Tim in our prayers for a quick & complete recovery.
Posted: Monday, November 09, 2009
Article comment by:
BDM
I think it is really sad how hateful and mean you people can be! You should all be ashamed of yourselves and realize that there are mourning families involved! Where is your compassion? I guess it is just easier for you heartless people to point the finger and rant and rave about other's driving instead of thinking about the people who are going through so much pain...My fiance, daughter and I were also on 69 that night and saw the accident, it was horrible..not a day has gone by since, that I haven't thought of those poor people and what ALL of them including their families have gone through! It's very sad to me that my daughter has to grow up in a world with hateful people such as yourselves. It's very easy to point your fingers and pass judgment without knowing all the facts..Good job!
Posted: Sunday, November 08, 2009
Article comment by:
VNV Wife
After reading all these messages about this accident has anyone even considered the possiblilty that the man in the red vehicle may have already been ill or possibly deceased. I mean where has all the compassion gone from in our society. Its so easy to blame but what happens to just supporting our neighbors in time of need and seing that all involved are cared for. Especially the loved ones left behind. How would you feel if one of your loved ones was the person in either one those trucks. Does anyone believe he was put there just to cause tragedy.How sad and disbelieving in our human kind. Both men have families and loved ones who care deeply about them, but wait for all the facts instead of assuming the worst. The worst has happened. a man has died and no one has even bothered to say a peaceful thing about the other parties family. His family who may or may not have read what you have written will have a grave impact on what you say. Especially since noone seems to know the other person who died. God bless both the families and i hope somewhere in this they find peace with themselves and with god.Shame on all of you who have condemed a person with out knowing exactly what happened that night. Only thge after math of a tragedy.
Posted: Sunday, November 08, 2009
Article comment by:
mother grieving over a lost son/wreck
Any injuries/fatalities/ wrecks such as these are tragic,tragic to the community and profoundally tragic to the families.My prayers go out to all involved.
Posted: Saturday, November 07, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
I too am a former co-worker of Tim Neitzel. Tim is an amazing person and alot of peoples lives changed yesterday when we all learned of this horrific accident that almost took a dear friend, amazing father and wonderful son. I pray for a full recovery for him and my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. I also pray for the family of the gentleman who caused this. I don't know what his intentions were, but in the end alot of peoples lives were changed forever this week.
Posted: Saturday, November 07, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
I disagree with the intoxication statement, stark raving mad & sober as a bell, obviously isn't any better. Scarier is, he may still be there. Prayers to Walt & fam in PHX.
Posted: Saturday, November 07, 2009
Article comment by:
it could have been me
I have little to add. I missed being struck head-on by this maniac by only one or two seconds. I saw a shadowy moving vehicle coming right at me, one hundred feet ahead, and only swerved into right shoulder because several others had too. I then saw overturned compact Ford two-door sedan, with woman being tended by others who'd also stopped. I called 911, gave report, walked up to group tending to injured woman who appeared to be not gravely injured. I could only imagine what might have happened further north, behind us, when that vehicle must have struck something. Now I know what happened. I could easily have been the vehicle that stopped this madness. I missed being this by inches. i will pray for Mr. Nietzel who 'took it' for all of the rest of us.
Posted: Saturday, November 07, 2009
Article comment by:
Lisa S.
I see too many people on the road who act and drive like they are a country unto themselves in their vehicles. It's their kitchen as they eat while they drive. It's their office as the talk or text on their phone while they drive. It's their bathroom as they put their make-up on because they're running late. DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE CONTROL OF A DEADLY WEAPON. IT CAN KILL JUST AS EASILY AS A GUN. Because there are not enough people treating their PRIVILIGE to operate a vehicle seriously, there will continue to be AVOIDABLE accidents that can injure and KILL. My prayers go to all the families who are being effected by this tragedy and to all of you, that you might see how important it is to take your driving responsibility seriously.
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
Catherine
My fiance' is a long time friend and former co-worker with Walter "Tim" Neitzel. Tim manages a welding supply shop in Prescott Valley. He lives in the Phoenix valley. He makes this drive everyday, he was on his way home. Tim is a big man. Not just physically, he has a big and kind heart. I know this from personal experience. This "accident" has shaken many people. Not just Tim's family and friends, but the families and friends of the other crash victims. It is beyond comprehension why an individual,seemingly with deliberate intent,would want to create such destruction.The thing to remember, is that Mr.Cook wasn't thinking. I can only imagine that he was in some kind of pain. Emotional or otherwise. Our friend Tim was air vacted to John C Lincoln,North Campus. Tim's injuries are extensive. He has already undergone 2 surgeries today. If there is more to come, we don't know. He'll be @ JC Lincoln for a bit of time. Please send your prayers, & positive thoughts to all the families involved. They'll need your support and strength.
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
To Grundlecat what a aweful thing to say. You remeber that the next one of your family members are in the wreck and it's their fault!! You should be ashamed of yourself!! Shame shame on you!!!!
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Yesterday was a bad day for us,worse for others.We broke down on the side of I17 just before Cordes Junction for 3 or more hrs,we finally made it to Mayer to work on the car only to see Emergency vehicles one after another blazing down the 69.We fixed the car and started our way home when we come up to the first flipped over car which didn't look good either.Next a mile of tail lights.As what we saw next was unbelievable,The 2 helicopters air vacing people out,twisted metal glass everywhere,How fast were they going to do that?Really couldn't make out what type of vehicles they were in except they were red.One of the worst accidents we have ever seen.Our thoughts an prayers go out to the family's involved.
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
Kurt Womack
From what I can tell from the article and comments is the suicide driver was in the inside lane? This is why I try not to be a LEFT LANE LEMMING. You increase your risk by driving all the time in the "fast" lane.
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
geezelouise
And who says a 'Lone Gunman' needs to have a gun? please be vigilent on the road and take any 'defensive' driving courses available, they are actually worth it. Everybody's goin' nuts.
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
soberman
this is horrible and would be a further tragedy if the man in the p/u was intoxicated. i was going to write an article to the editor about the oblivious and incoherent senior citizens who, almost ran into me 3 times today, are allowed to drive. nevermind all the drunk drivers on the roads, they are out at ALL hours (it's not just a weekend/evening event), but then we have to defensively drive to avoid the blue haired old lady hidden behind the dashboard, who usually can't see anyway, or we have the centenarian (that's a person over 100, for those who don't know what that is) who doesn't know what a turn signal or stop sign means...people forget driving is a PRIVILEGE, not a right, and just how dangerous 3000 lbs of metal can be in the wrong hands. sympathies to all families involved.
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
B. Kline
At 6:04 pm last night my 9 year old daughter and I were heading north on 69. We saw a group of about 6 cars off the side of the road on the southbound side and as continued on we came across the horrific scene. the front of the red Dodge was gone and the other vehicle was on it's side. The police had not even arrived yet and the line of cars behind the accident was almost a 1/2 a mile long in that short of time. My daughter was extremely upset seeing the incident. We are praying for the families of everyone involved including Mr. Cook's family. Mr. Cook, even with what he did last night, is still a father, brother, or son to someone who is grieving with everyone else right now. I hope that they all receive closure and comfort in their time of need.
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
I was driving on Route 69 Northbound toward Prescott last night, when I saw a series of 2-3 horrific accidents on the other side of the highway. I saw a car flipped over and other smashed up cars. Glass and other debris had flown onto the Northbound side of the highway where I was driving. I think this was around 6:30 p.m. I could not figure out what was going on--it was indeed total chaos. I kept driving and saw emergency vehicles speeding toward the accident for the next 20 or so minutes of my drive. I have been trying to figure out what happened and this is the only article I have seen so far online. I am very disturbed to hear of the cause of these accidents and am praying for all those involved. Although probably unrealistic, I am still hoping that there is some explanation other than that this was intentional on the part of the red pickup driver.
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
Grundlecat
I sincerely hope the one who died was the guilty party.
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
william jones
I last night was ran off the road by this mad man innocent people heading home trying to get to our families. When we have someone in a 2000 to 2004 red dodge durango. At a very high rate of speed in the inside southbound lane of hwy 69 going northbound. This individual had no lights on what so ever I still don't know how I got out of the way. But through the grace of god I did. I'm still very upset as to why someone would do this to innocent people who never did anything to this individual. You have changed and scarred people for life. I luckily only ended up flying sideways through the median, but you injured and hurt people for no reason. I pray for everyone that had the unfortunate timing to have been on that stretch of hwy last night.
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
We arrived about 10 minutes later after the accident and were about 2 to 3 car lengths back from the scene. It was horrible. We watched as they tried to get the people out of the smashed vehicle for what must have been over 30 to 40 minutes. I did not see all the vehicles but the one I did see was really smashed up. I don't know how anyone could have survived this accident. Two helicopters landed on 69 just to the left of our vehicle and were quick to get the people airlifted. I had no idea what happened at the time but the explanation above tells it all. I could not figure how three vehicles could flip over at that point on 69.
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
I was stuck in this traffic jam - the scene was horrific. Any survivors will be a miracle - unbelievable. Was the red truck headed North in a Southbound lane?
Thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of all involved...
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Wow! we were headed toward Dewey on 69 when we saw the car that had flipped and someone on a stretcher being loaded into the ambulance, we continued on and the traffic slowed to a stop with nothing but brake lights. We could see the collision ahead had shut down both lanes. This was at approx. 6:50 pm, we sat until about 7:50 as two helicopters air evacted victims out. We suspected this must be a case of a vehicle in the wrong lane. Two trucks were involved, both red. Very bad collision, we were also very thankful to not have happened along sooner.
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
A few precious seconds . . .
At 6:00 pm last night I was a passenger in a car headed south on 69 just past Humboldt. Suddenly we saw brake lights ahead on all cars, then my boyfriend suddenly pulled over to the left shoulder. Out of the shadows heading straight towards us, into oncoming 65-mph traffic, was a reddish pickup without his lights on going at least 65 mph too. He made no evasive move, didn't slow down, it was craziness. Ahead one car had flipped over on the side of the road, the passenger was out and being assisted by other drivers. I can only imagine what happened behind us on the road - some serious stuff. We pray for the victims and those affected by this awful accident. We thank God we were a few precious seconds away from the impact. Unbelievable.
